More people lost their jobs in the UK manufacturing sector in November than any other month for more than seven years, as the industry continued a months-long losing streak.

The pace of job losses hit its steepest level since September 2012, according to new data from the closely watched IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey.

It found that uncertainty around Brexit, attempts to slash costs, and redundancies had all played roles in the process.

“The pace of job losses also hit a seven-year high as firms sought to reduce overheads in the face of falling sales,” said Rob Dobson, director at IHS Markit.

Meanwhile, the sector scored 48.9 in November, lower than its 49.6 score in October. Anything below 50 means the sector is contracting. However, market watchers might take some relief from the fact that it beat preliminary figures of 48.3, released for the first time ever two weeks ago.

Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Show all 5 1 /5 Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Jaguar Land Rover Britain's largest automotive manufacturer announced in January that it plans to cut 4500 jobs from its 40,000 workforce Getty Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Nissan The Japanese car company announced early in February that it would no longer be making the new X-trail model at its Sunderland factory Getty Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Honda Honda has announced that it is planning to close its Swindon plant with the loss of 3,500 jobs PA Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Michelin Michelin announced in November that it will close its Dundee tyre factory which employs over 800 people by 2020 PA Car manufacturers cutting UK jobs Schaeffler Shchaeffler's Llanelli plant is to close by the end of 2019. The company provides automotive and and industrial parts worldwide and the Llanelli plant employs over 200 people. Juergen Ziegler, chief executive for Europe, said that while Brexit was not the only factor, it has "brought forward" the decision to relocate Google

The sector was hit as companies continued to eat up the stockpiles they had built up in anticipation of a no-deal Brexit.

Companies had worried they might not be able to get some supplies from Europe if Britain crashed out without a deal. However, now that the Brexit date has been postponed, businesses are using up these supplies, and not buying new products.

This meant that new orders fell for the seventh month in a row, a fact that was exacerbated by global trade worries. The drop in new export orders was one of the steepest in the past seven years.

“A heavy sense of inevitability hung around the sector in November as it continued to suffer the effects of a lethal cocktail of Brexit uncertainty, slowing global growth and an impending general election,” said Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

He added: “Inevitably, where new orders fall, jobs are sure to follow and manufacturing employment fell at its fastest pace since September 2012.

“Firms tried to balance their books by reducing overheads and improving efficiencies quickly, and staff numbers were the casualties.”

Several businesses decided to shut their doors in November, with Mothercare among the highest-profile casualties.

Last week Bonmarche announced it was avoiding collapse after being taken out of administration by Peacocks. But around 240 jobs will still be lost as 30 stores are closed before Christmas.