For every pound Britons set aside during the second quarter of the year they withdrew 63p from their savings, research showed yesterday.

During the three months to the end of June people saved an average of £611, but during the same period they withdrew around £384, according to Wolverhampton-based Birmingham Midshires.

The rate at which people took money out of their savings was 11 per cent higher than during the first quarter, when people withdrew 52p from every £1 they saved.

Men were the worst culprits at raiding their savings, spending 90p of every £1 they managed to save during the three months, while women spent just 40p for every pound.

The main reason given by men for raiding their savings was to help out friends who were in need, with men claiming to have withdrawn an average of £208 during the quarter for this purpose, while women were most likely to withdraw money to go on a spending spree, getting through around £54 during the period. Across both sexes lending money to friends and family was the most common reason given for making a withdrawal, followed by unexpected bills.

Richard Brown, head of savings products at Birmingham Midshires, said: "Summer can be an expensive time of year, holidays, socialising and a new wardrobe can all prove tempting.

"Saving requires strict discipline and we urge people to realistically assess their budgets and think through their savings allocation so they put aside a realistic amount of money each month.

"We urge people to budget for all eventualities and consider ways to cut down on spending rather than raiding their piggy banks if they do find they need to find extra money."

People in the South West were the best savers, withdrawing an average of just 8p for every £1 they saved, but those in the South-east were the least disciplined taking out £2.62 for every pound they put away.

People from the West Midlands saved £403 in the last three months but raided £201 from their piggy banks over the same period. The top reasons for raiding were for impulse purchases (£69) or to lend someone money (£57)

The under 30s singletons were the worst of all life-stage groups with 82 per cent of everything they put away coming straight back out again.

Cautious home owning couples were most prudent taking just 22 pence out for every pound.