Britain's savings soap opera

When it comes to saving and spending money, Britons' financial habits resemble a soap opera, a new survey claims.

The poll from credit reference agency CreditExpert asked consumers which soap characters they felt that they most resembled when it came to their money habits and found that the largest number - 16 per cent - thought they were like EastEnders' Pat Butcher.

Albert Square's Pat has good intentions when it comes to finances, according to the agency, but suffers from lapses in financial control and can struggle with credit payments.

Around ten per cent of consumers identified with EastEnders' businessman Ian Beale, with 53 per cent having some form of savings and investments and 51 per cent believing that they are in control of their finances.

Meanwhile, 15 per cent identified with financially comfortable Emmerdale widow Rosemary King, seven per cent with Emmerdale's money-savvy Rodney Blackstock, seven per cent with Coronation Street entrepreneur Liam Connor and six per cent with Coronation Street's Cilla Battersby-Brown, who often struggles to get by.

"Despite examining fictional characters, our Credit TV study highlights the range of financial attitudes and situations in the UK today," said Jim Hodgkins, managing director of CreditExpert.co.uk.

Earlier research from the company revealed that 66 per cent of Britons have some form of savings or investments.