More than 60 per cent of Britons say they can no longer afford family healthcare needs including dentist and optician trips, according to an insurer.

Engage Mutual has found more than a third (43 per cent) claim they cannot afford dental checkups, while another 43 per cent are unable to pay for new glasses and 16 per cent cannot even afford to pay for an eye checkup.

A further 23 per cent cannot afford vitamins and health supplements, while 20 per cent cannot afford prescription charges.

Karl Elliott, spokesperson for Engage Mutual said: “With the cost of living on the rise, our research shows a shocking number of people struggling to pay for some quite basic family healthcare necessities.

“Engage is committed to providing a range of simple and straightforward financial products to meet the needs of the modern British family.”

Lancashire and the north-east are the serious strugglers when it comes to health costs with nearly seven in ten (69 per cent) suffering.

Of these, new spectacles top the list as the most common unaffordable cost for Lancastrians (48 per cent), and regular dental check ups are beyond the means of 49 per cent of those struggling in the north-east.

Engage Health offers cash plans, starting from £2.40 per week, to pay for regular healthcare needs.