British factories enjoyed their best calendar quarter of output since 1999 during the first three months of 2014, according to official data released on Friday.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said output leapt 1.4 per cent in the first three months of 2014, compared with 0.9 per cent in the three months to February.

According to Reuters, it was the fastest three-month growth total since October 2010 and the best calendar quarter in nearly 15 years.

But the news service said manufacturing remained sluggish compared to other parts of the UK economy and was still 7.6 per cent smaller than it was at the start of 2008, before the recession kicked in.

Separate figures released by the ONS today show that Britain’s trade deficit narrowed in March.