The textiles, leather and clothing industries were among those worst hit by the continuing slowdown in UK manufacturing in the three months to the end of May 2001.

According to figures released by the Office of National Statistics last week, output in the textiles, leather and clothing sector fell by 5% during the period, and was down 10.6% compared with the same three month period last year.

During April, the UK manufacturing sector suffered its worst fall in output since August 1997, declining by 0.9%.