Boosting the number of people in the UK who carry out their jobs from home would help ease the country’s congestion concerns, one expert has made clear.

Chief executive of Work Wise UK Phil Flaxton has suggested that the potential to reduce the number of cars on the road and the number of commuters on public transport is among the key benefits offered by an increase in "smarter working practices".

"Changing our working practices, and so our travel patterns, is one of the solutions to road congestion and public transport overcrowding, and probably the only one that is currently achievable," he said.

Furthermore, Mr Flaxton, whose organisation was behind last week’s National Work From Home Day, is also keen to highlight the reduction in carbon emissions that would result if more British businesses offered home-based working opportunities.

"The added benefit of reducing travel through changing working practices is the huge impact on the levels of CO2 emissions from transport sources," he added.

BT, the Trades Union Congress, Transport for London and the Confederation of British Industry are among a host of organisations backing the initiatives led by Work Wise UK.