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The TUC has called for an overhaul of how mothers are treated by employers after a study found a widening in the gender pay gap.

The union organisation's report said that while women earn less than men at every stage of their career, the gap broadens to reveal an average £85,000 "pay penalty" over the course of a single decade.

It said an 18-year-old woman in a full time job earned an average of £1,395 a year less than her male peers - with the gap standing at more than £3,000 by the age of 30, £7,200 for those in their 40s and more than £8,000 for women aged 50.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Women suffer a huge pay penalty over the course of their careers, which peaks in their 50s.

"At current rates of progress it will take decades for women to achieve pay parity with men.

"Having children has starkly different effects on men's and women's pay, with women earning less after having kids, and men earning more.

"Far more needs to be done to help mums get back into decent, well-paid jobs after they have kids, and to encourage dads to take on their share of caring responsibilities."

The organisation has claimed it will take almost 50 years to close the pay gap but a Government spokesman insisted progress was still being made.

"The gender pay gap is the lowest on record and is virtually eliminated among full-time workers under 40 but we are committed to eliminating it completely.

"That's why we're taking action by requiring employers to publish their gender pay and bonus gaps for the first time ever from April next year."