The health of the sector has now strengthened in three successive months.

While purchasing activity and employment were scaled back, business sentiment improved to a 16-month high.

Although marked, the latest decline in business conditions was much less severe than that seen during the worst of the Covid-19 related downturn in April.

Record falls were seen in output, new orders, employment and purchasing amid company shutdowns and the cancellation of orders.

Over 80% of CEOs taking part in a survey noted Covid-19 would have a negative impact on their business this year.