Economic growth accelerated in the final month of 2016, as companies across Britain’s powerful services sector reported rising demand in December.

Growth in the sector rose to its highest level in 17 months, according to IHS Markit’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI), as companies recovered from the blow to confidence inflicted by the Brexit vote.

Businesses had feared the referendum result would harm the economy but, so far, there is little evidence of any widespread slowdown.