Job creation in the UK’s dominant service sector grew at its fastest pace for four months in February, while confidence hit a peak not seen since September 2009.

The headline business activity index of the Purchasing Managers’ Index by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) hit 58.2 last month. A mark above 50 denotes growth in the industry.

It was the fourteenth consecutive month of growth and the latest figures were bolstered by incoming new business, said the researchers.

The data marked the eleventh successive month that work outstanding has risen, with February’s growth only slightly down on January’s near 17-year peak.

David Noble, group chief executive officer at CIPS, said: "The UK service sector maintained the lengthening trend of consistent growth and all the signs are this is set to continue, with confidence at a four-and-a-half year high.

He added: “New clients have underpinned this optimism giving firms the platform to invest in new projects and jobs.”