Brexit uncertainty hits new business for UK service sector

Sector reports modest growth in September but confidence almost at its weakest since the end of 2011

Britain's services sector expanded at a "modest" pace last month as mounting concerns about the impact of Brexit dampened orders and hit business confidence.

Service sector companies reported strong consumer spending had underpinned expansion while orders from other businesses had fallen back to leave overall new sales growth at the slowest pace since August 2016.

Related: Lending to UK firms at risk after Brexit, Bank of England warns