BOLTON Citizens Advice Bureau issued a warning to local employers today after figures revealed a rising number of workers are being denied their legal rights to a paid holiday.

They claim that as thousands of families return from their fortnight in the sun, more and more employers are dodging their legal duty to give holiday pay.

The number of requests for help from people with employment problems continues to to rise -- and Bolton CAB estimates that a quarter of those now concern holiday pay.

They say women are especially likely to have problems getting paid leave, as are part-time, agency and temporary workers and those whose bosses falsely insist they are self-employed.

Many of the complaints reported to the CAB come from people working in pubs, restaurants, nursing homes and cleaning companies.

But CAB evidence shows that a wide range of employers are failing to meet their legal obligations.

Social policy development officer Matthew Wright said: "The right to take paid holiday from work is one that most of us now take for granted, yet for many people the reality is very different.

"Most enlightened employers recognise that people work better throughout the year if they are able to take proper holidays, but our evidence shows that too many unscrupulous employers present their workforce with a stark choice between accepting illegal terms of employment or getting the sack."

In one case uncovered by CAB officers, one woman working part-time in a pub kitchen had no paid holidays in 13 years of working for her employers after they claimed she was exempt from the legislation.

Since the European Working Time regulations came into force in October 1998, most workers have a legal right to at least four weeks paid leave a year, but many workers denied this right are too scared of losing their job to take action.

Bolton CAB wants the Government to create a new enforcement body that could investigate third party and anonymous complaints and do random spot checks on employers.

They have also prepared a pocket guide to paid holiday entitlement which will be available all this week from a stand in the Market Hall.

Mr Wright added: "The CAB can help workers to approach their employer about getting their full entitlement and, if necessary, can help them take their case to an employment tribunal."

Anyone experiencing problems with holiday pay entitlement can contact the CAB on 0870 126 4038.