Nearly a quarter of sole traders have insured their animals, while only one in five have accident insurance to cover themselves, and just 8% have income replacement cover.

The figures come from Combined Insurance, which reckons the average Briton could only survive for 17 days if their income was suddenly taken away.

Spokesman Nigel Brittle told Sky News:

"In a country where approximately one in five workers are self employed, it is a concern that so many are more likely to financially protect their pets than they are themselves or their families."