For half of us, mum is the one we call our best friend, a new study has revealed.

A survey of 2,010 UK adults carried out by One4all, the Post Office gift card, found almost half of Brits (43 per cent) say their mum is one of their best friends.

One in 4 (24 per cent) speak to their mum every day, while 29 per cent see them at least once every week.

When quizzed on the relationship they have with their mothers, respondents said she plays a much bigger role in their life than just a parental figure, a quarter said they enjoy socialising with their mum.

Almost 1 in 3 (31 per cent) said they would turn to their mum first with any good news, while 30 per cent would reach out to their mum if they were in trouble, suggesting she’s more than just a shoulder to cry

Millennials are leading the trend – 25-34 year olds were the age group who most commonly count their mum as a BFF.

There was some love lost however between British adults and their mums during the teenage years - adolescent Brits spent six years avoiding quality time with their mum as they grow up, before turning 20 and realising that mum is the word.