London's women are earning nearly a quarter less than their male colleagues, according to a recent study.

The capital also has the biggest gap between women's earnings and what a man takes home, the report commissioned by London mayor Ken Livingstone reveals.

On average, women earn £16.21 an hour, a fiver less than the £21.05 men earn.

The report cites the prevalence of men in the most senior jobs as part of the cause for the 23 per cent difference in the earnings of each sex.

There are only two female chief executives and only 11 per cent of company directors are women.

Mayor Livingstone called on the government to introduce new laws to so that equal pay is no longer just a "pipe dream".

He said that findings were "unacceptable" and urged the government to legislate for mandatory pay audits, stricter enforcement on discrimination of pregnant women and to give employment tribunals more powers to protect women's rights.

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