In spite of the huge rise in the number of women assuming more economic responsibility as family heads, it has been found that many are failing to take out any form of financial protection.

A recent survey found that the nearly half of all working women in the UK have yet to invest in essential protections like life insurance, critical illness or income protection insurance.

Reports said that employment figures for women have sharply risen over the years and they are likely to outnumber their male counterparts by 2018.

They are also becoming the main breadwinners in many homes, but they are still not very keen on taking out life insurance or income protection.

Up to eight million women across the country, revealed the study by AXA, have not purchased the cover that would provide a fallback in case things suddenly went wrong.

Experts in the industry are warning the trend could have a serious consequence, with the current economic downturn faced by most people and the threat of breast cancer, which is dreaded by every woman.