When faced with technical problems, most people shouted at colleagues, hit the PC or even threw parts of the computers.

The most frustrating hitch was when people lost their work after their computer crashed or froze.

The problems seem to be widespread with more than a quarter of those working with computers experience problems with their PC on a weekly basis.

"Over half of all working days lost to sickness in the UK are related to workplace stress," said Fiona Dennis, a stress management trainer with Priory Healthcare.

"Being heavily reliant on IT to speed up our lives means that performance is hampered greatly when it fails, causing an over-reaction and stress."

70% swear at PCs

The study by the National Opinion Poll and the software company Symantec, found that nearly half of all computer users had become angry at some time.

Almost a third of people had physically attacked a computer, 67% experienced frustration, exasperation and anger and more than 70% swore at their machines.

Technology rage is the latest rage to emerge in Britain and follows road rage, trolley rage and air rage.

There was a dramatic rise in air rage incidents last year, with 174 people detained at Heathrow and Gatwick alone. In 1998 the number of air rage arrests for the whole country was 98.