Houses that allow shorter travelling times to work are worth higher prices, and most people would be willing to pay more for a house if they could cut their journey times to the office, a survey reveals.

The rising stress of commuting was the reason for the trend, according to a poll of over 7000 personnel, conducted by recruitment website reed.co.uk.

One in three would pay up to 30% more on housing to ease the daily commute and one in ten had already moved house to be closer to work.

Revealing the increase in commuting stress since an earlier survey in 2000, 40% of workers said the stress had increased.

Workers in Scotland and south-east England were prepared to pay the most to move house if it reduced the time they spent travelling to and from the office.

Dan Ferrandino, the managing director of the recruitment website reed.co.uk, which conducted the research, said: "Alongside all the other pressures making housing costs rise, it seems that the increasing stress of daily commuting is putting an even greater pressure on property prices."

"The desire to start the day fresh and upbeat means the UK workforce would pay even more for somewhere to live if it meant an easier journey to work."

"A stressful commute cannot only get you off to a bad start or wreck a relaxing evening, it also makes you less productive at work. Time spent harmonising your career plans with where you live can reduce the commuting nightmare and improve the quality of your life."