Working parents with two children will spend up to �2,400 on childcare and entertaining their offspring during the summer holidays, new research suggests.

About 17% of working parents spend �100 a week on childcare, which adds up to �1,200 over a six-week school holiday for a family with two children, according to Abbey National.

Smart parents encourage their kids to save their pocket money for summer time treats

Janet Connor, Abbey National

In addition, 16% of parents spend an extra �100 a week to entertain their children during the holidays.

The figures are based on a survey carried out by independent research group BMRB which questioned 371 parents during April.

Around 55% of parents questioned said they would choose to leave their children with family and friends when they were not at school.

While 32% planned to cut down or change their working hours.

Free events

Just over a quarter of people said they would stop working for the six weeks of school holidays, though they often had to take a pay cut for doing this.

To keep their children amused during the summer 84% of parents plan to take them to the seaside, while 80% would opt for the park.

And 74% would shell out for expensive trips to theme parks or the zoo.

About 68% of parents said they would go to the cinema, 63% would go on shopping trips.

Regional differences

And 47% claimed they would take advantage of the free museums and art galleries in the UK.

Janet Connor, of Abbey National, said: "Parents relish the chance of spending more time with their kids over the summer, but also know it can be hard work to keep them entertained.

"More than one in 10 parents say they will have to organise between 11 and 15 day trips to occupy their children, but there are ways of cutting costs.

"Smart parents encourage their kids to save their pocket money for summer time treats, which not only saves the parental pulse but helps establish independence and important saving habits for their children."

People in the Midlands are most likely to enlist the help of family and friends, with 68% leaving their children with them.

But 39% of Londoners will pay for them to go to a nursery - more than double the national average of 17%.