Britons start pensions 'at 28'

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The average Briton begins preparing for their retirement at 28, earlier than in any other major country, a report says.

But the research found one-third will depend on property to secure an income in old age.

Typically, people in the UK start to plan for retirement at 28, a year before they begin climbing the property ladder, the survey claimed.

Axa's Global Retirement Scope study said the average worker in the US started saving for old age at 30.

In Australasia and mainland Europe, the typical age rose to between 31 and 33, while in Japan workers on average waited until 36.

The Chinese have to hold on the longest before starting to plan for retirement, with an average age of 37, the survey reported.

Head of pensions and savings policy at Axa Steve Folkard said: "It is exciting to see people starting to take more responsibility for their own income in retirement.

"However, homeowners have limited options for generating earnings from the property they live in."

The study surveyed 11,500 people in 11 countries.