Many schoolchildren don’t think women can be builders, footballers or lorry drivers, according to a survey.

Researchers who polled 1,000 boys and girls aged four to eight found many have already formed an opinion on the careers available to different genders.

When asked which jobs are for boys, 40 per cent of children polled said doctors, with 44 per cent in agreement being an engineer is a career for men.

Over half reckoned all farmers are male.