The Government’s plans to rebalance the UK economy are increasingly at risk, according to the latest Business Trends Report by business advisers BDO.

The report's optimism index shows that while the services sector is expecting rapid growth, with scores well above the trend at 104.2, manufacturers’ optimism is deep in negative territory at 90.2.

Short term economic prospects – as predicted by BDO’s output index - are more positive, with both sectors expecting similarly strong growth and output over the next three months.

Martin Gill head of BDO in Scotland, said: “These figures show that the UK needs to act now to support our manufacturing industry.”