UK manufacturing activity contracted in April for the first time in three years, a survey has indicated, adding to fears over the economy's strength.
The Markit/CIPS manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 49.2 from 50.7 in March. A reading below 50 indicates falling output.
It is the first time that activity in the sector has fallen since March 2013.
Firms blamed soft domestic demand, a fall in new business from overseas and uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum.
A slowdown in the oil and gas industry, a major customer for UK companies, is also hitting production.
The index for new orders fell to 50.4 in April, from 51.9 the month before, matching February's three-year low.
Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, said: "On this evidence manufacturing production is now falling at a quarterly pace of around 1%, and will likely act as a drag on the economy again during the second quarter and putting greater pressure on the service sector to sustain GDP growth.