MODERN man may be a whizz in the kitchen, look after the kids and even flirt with the Fairy Liquid in the sink.

But, when it comes to doing the laundry, he turns off completely.

According to research from appliance manufacturer Zanussi, in only three per cent of shared homes in the North-west does the man do more clothes washing than the woman.

In an overwhelming 82 per cent of local homes, it is the woman who is left to tackle the washing -- regardless of whether or not she has a full-time job.

Men only lend a hand in one in five households here, either on an equal basis or just helping out occasionally.

Not too surprisingly (to women), men appear to feel little or no embarrassment about this state of affairs.

Ninety-two per cent say they are not bothered by their partner doing their washing -- even if it involves dealing with their dirty underwear or smelly socks.

Is it any wonder, though, that these are exactly the items that women least like to handle?

For the few men that actually do the laundry, there is a general dislike of handling women's tights and bras -- not normally an issue at other times!