Those thinking of relying on their savings in the future may find their funds run out sooner than they think, it is claimed.

The state pension falls short of being able to offer a comfortable lifestyle, notes the Press and Journal, with a couple expected to live on £7,924 a year.

In addition to this, volatility in the global stock markets has led to a fall in value for many funds, meaning some people are unable to retire.

Furthermore, the paper states that people are living longer, putting greater strain on existing pension funds.

Those who are in retirement for longer than they worked are likely to be under the most pressure, it is stated, leading many people to have to accumulate more than they are earning in order to fund the cost of living.

The Office for National Statistics revealed that 39 per cent of working age people in Britain are contributing members of private pension schemes – 43 per cent of men and 37 per cent of women.