UK - Britons are worried about their retirement income but the number of people without any pension provision is actually increasing, Alliance Trust research suggests.

The percentage of adults in the UK without any retirement provision, apart from their state pension, has risen to 26% from 20% last year, according to Alliance's annual Retirement Confidence Index.

This survey also showed only 1% of the 30 to 40-year-olds was 'totally confident' about being able to provide for a comfortable requirement.

Moreover, almost one-third of women (31%) said they had not arranged any retirement provision, compared with 23% last year, while among men the figure has risen from 17% to 22%.

Alliance sees the major reason for this in people's reluctance to lock up money for the long term.

"Locking regular sums into a pension might often be put off in favour of more immediate financial demands but with the range of saving products available today, there is now much more flexibility than ever in how people can save for their future," commented Hyman Wolanski, head of Pensions at Alliance Trust.

He noted ISAs "could be more appropriate earlier in their savings life" with the option of later transferring some of the money into a retirement fund.