Financial advisers in Kent have warned workers to "take pensions more seriously" after a nationwide report found the amount saved for retirement had been slashed by a half.

New research from Prudential found that voluntary pension contributions made by adults in the UK had almost halved in the past 12 months.

It found people paying into company and private pension schemes admitted they had cut contributions by an average £134 a month compared with the same time last year.

David Marlowe, director at Alexander Forbes Financial Services, which advises staff at the Kent Messenger Group on pensions said: "The big picture around the UK is that people are not saving enough relative to what they want to get back when they do retire."

He said that although his own clients continued to be well provided for, many people in the UK needed to "take pensions more seriously".

He said: "The message is that you should not kid yourself about what you are going to get back. The Government and employers will go so far to help you, but your pension is your responsibility, so make sure you are clued up about what you are going to get back.

"It is about striking the right balance. You have to budget for today, but do not skimp for the future."

The 2008 Retirement Savings Report by financial services provider Prudential found UK workers said they were contributing an average of £144.57 a month to private and company pension schemes.

This was almost half the average in the same report last year, when the figure stood at £279.38.

Gary Shaughnessy, a Prudential director said: "It is deeply concerning to see that the amount UK adults are personally paying into pension schemes has fallen so dramatically in the past year.

"With rising prices and a squeeze on savings, reducing pension contributions may look like an attractive short-term option, but the reality is that continuing to save as early as possible is vital if people are to build a pension pot large enough to maintain their lifestyle in retirement.

"While we always encourage people to look at their wider wealth portfolios, the current uncertain economic conditions and concerns over house-price deflation means that maintaining pension contributions is more important now than ever."