Once, Britain was a country of elm trees. Then Dutch elm disease arrived, in the late 1960s, and within three decades nearly all of them were wiped out. Now, a similar fate threatens another glory of the British woodland: the ash.

Collection Mony Vibescu

Manufacturers saw output reach its lowest level in three years this month as companies became increasingly concerned by political and economic problems abroad, a survey said.

The United States isn't making things that the world wants to buy.

A further plunge in exports saw the UK rack up its second-biggest trade deficit on record, official figures show.

The heating and plumbing giant Wolseley has said it does not plan to follow the advertising giant WPP and shift its tax base back to the UK.

Iran's parliament has summoned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to answer questions about the national currency going into free-fall after Western sanctions over the country's nuclear programme.

Food manufacturers appear to have found a sweet spot in the Middle East, with exports from the UK up by more than a quarter to some Gulf countries this year.

Herbal remedies and massage oils containing ground tiger claws, poisonous plants and cow urine have been seized by border officials at a UK port.

Our joint scholarships are lowering financial barriers, says Russ Thorne

The embattled eurozone was on the brink of a double-dip recession today as figures revealed that the 17-nation economy shrank by 0.2% between April and June.

With the drachma likely to plunge most, the biggest price cut may well be on retsina

Depending on your republican leanings, it could be argued that the British Monarchy represents both the best and worst of the country. So perhaps it's fitting that although the Prince of Wales was recently named as one of GQ's best-dressed men, he has featured on worst-dressed lists. But that hasn't stopped his odd ascent to the top of British fashion.

The two largest economies of the single currency see exports fall and growth forecasts reduced