The UK economy has shrunk by a quarter as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with output falling at the fastest monthly rate on record in April following a steep decline in March.

Output in the UK plunged 20.4% in April, compared with the previous month, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. This is by far the largest contraction since monthly records began in 1997 and follows a 5.8% contraction in March, the previous record fall.

By the end of April the economy was about 25% smaller than in February.