Manufacturing giant JCB is to end its membership of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) amid reports that the digger maker was unhappy with the lobby group's anti-Brexit stance.

JCB, which employs close to 6,500 people in the UK and sells to 150 countries, notified the organisation of its intention to leave following the EU referendum result this summer.

While JCB and the CBI confirmed the move, both declined to comment on the reasons behind the manufacturer's decision.

It is understood that JCB will remain a member of the CBI until the middle of 2017, when its fee is due for renewal.

Sources told Sky News that the CBI's warnings of the economic cost of Brexit had triggered its decision.