Britain’s manufacturing sector will outperform the wider economy this year and next as surging export orders outweigh Brexit uncertainty at home.

The prediction comes from manufacturing trade body EEF, after its quarterly survey found the sector in good health.

The weak pound has contributed to a surge of interest from foreign customers as UK products are relatively cheaper, driving up orders and output.

In the final quarter, EEF’s research found that output was stable at reading of +34pc, meaning more companies are reporting rises in production than declines. Total orders were at a reading of +30pc, seven percentage points lower than in the last quarter, but still at a level described by EEF as “very healthy” and coming off close to historic highs.