Workers in Newport call in sick throughout the winter more than anywhere else in the UK, according to research by the HSS Hire tooling group.

On average, workers in the Welsh city take five and a half days off sick during the winter months. Those who do go into work are late at least twice a month, and they are late by more than 15min — more than any other region in the UK. Four out of 10 blame their children, while a further four in 10 blame icy roads.

Productivity also takes a downturn during the winter, with one in four workers saying that their office is too cold to work efficiently.

A total of 47% ask for the heating to be turned up, while a similar percentage sit at their desk with a coat on. Meanwhile, 30% take a hot-water bottle with them to work, while 28% sit in their car at lunch-time to warm up.

Meanwhile, HSS Hire Group has revealed plans to raise £13 million through a share placing, to provide “additional flexibility” as it continues with a programme of investment.

In a trading update last November, the company announced the extension of an “operational change programme” lasting into the first quarter of 2017. It said this will “impact our core rental business and related revenue growth”.

The board has concluded that “an equity injection will strengthen the balance sheet of the group and provide additional flexibility to fund fleet investment, as we complete the change programme in early 2017”.