IF you're stuck in traffic during rush hour, make sure it's not London or Manchester.

That's the verdict from Citroen following a study into delays in the peak 8-9am and 5-6pm travelling periods.

According to the French manufacturer, rush hour city drivers are spending almost half their journeys - 43 per cent of the time - sat in stationary traffic, an increase of 13.7 per cent compared to five years ago.

The new research found that over a one hour journey at peak times, the average inner city commuter could be spending around 25 minutes 39 seconds at a complete standstill.

The study was carried out to promote the Citroen C4's e-HDi ‘Stop & Start' diesel engine technology.

Citroen analysed journeys during the traditional morning and evening rush hours in five major UK cities - London, Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham and Cardiff - during February.  The same routes were first monitored in 2006 and the study was repeated in 2008.

Citroen communications director Marc Raven said: "Despite a general downward trend in traffic during the economic slowdown, many urban commuters are experiencing similar, if not worse stop-start journeys to work as they were five years ago."

The research found that city motorists could be doing zero mph for approximately 43 per cent of their twice daily commute. Over the evaluated rush hour periods, that figure has increased by an average of 3 minutes 5 seconds over the last five years.

Drivers in London were static for 19 minutes 20 seconds on average in 2006, but this had risen to an amazing 36 minutes 28 seconds at the start of 2011.

Manchester leapt from 21 minutes to 28 minutes 39 seconds, while in contrast, Cardiff saw an average 10 minute reduction in the time spent stationary.

Birmingham drivers were static for a few more seconds - up from 21m 44s in 2006 to 22m 03s - and in Norwich the figure decreased by three seconds from 20m 32s.