Manufacturing output fell between June and July, according to latest official figures.

The Office for National Statistics reported that output declined by 0.3 per cent between June and July compared with a 0.2 per cent increase between May and June.

The fall was due largely to a 1.5 per cent decline in output in the transport equipment industries.

There were also falls in output of companies manufacturing equipment for mobile phones and in the pharmaceutical sector.

But significant rises in output of electrical and optical equipment manufacturing and machinery equipment meant that on a three monthly measure, manufacturing output rose by 0.5 per cent.

On a yearly basis, manufacturing output is up 0.7 per cent.

Overall, industrial production between June and July was unchanged and stands at 1.1 per cent up on the year.