An increased demand from abroad for British-made goods has helped output in the manufacturing sector rise for the first time in two years.
This is according to new figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which revealed that 31 per cent of manufacturers surveyed saw output increase in the three months to January.
Just one-fifth (20 per cent) said that it declined, with the resulting balance of +11 per cent the highest it has been since the beginning of 2007.
CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty confirmed that manufacturers are returning to a period of "modest growth".
"It is encouraging that the weaker pound is now providing firms with some respite as global demand improves," he commented.
"Exports are rising for the first time in two years as UK-made goods are looking more attractive in overseas markets."
Mr McCafferty went on to say that manufacturing businesses are "feeling upbeat" about their 2010 prospects, with the British economy gradually emerging from recession.
The CBI said last week that the latest unemployment figures in the UK are "better than expected".