Manufacturer's confidence has fallen in the area, according to the latest CBI Regional Trends Survey.

The poll, which found business confidence has fallen in every region in the UK for the first time in a yearm reported the steepest falls in the east of England, the Midlands, the north west and Scotland.

The north-east and Northern Ireland reported the smallest decline in business confidence.

The poll also found a fall in export optimism for the next 12 months in most regions. John Pennington, president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "The Chamber released its own economic survey results late last month which revealed a difficult time for manufacturers and exporters over the last quarter.

"Confidence did sink to its lowest level for a year in our results, and so we would agree with the sentiments expressed by the CBI."

The poll found business confidence in the region was less negative than the national average, with hopes for an upturn in orders during the next four months.

The east midlands, the north west and Scotland had the biggest falls in export optimism, while the north east and Yorkshire and Humberside were showed the least decline in export optimism.

Mr Pennington added: "It's hardly reassuring for our members to know that CBI members are suffering in the same way as they are. It is worrying, and the national as well as local economy is being placed in a precarious position, to some extent due to events elsewhere, but the Government also now needs to get a grip of things."

Nationally, the CBI found the number of firms working below capacity had risen to 74 per cent, a 20 year high. Yorkshire and Humberside reported the highest number of firms working below capacity, 79 per cent, while Northern Ireland had the lowest, 51 per cent.

Doug Godden, the CBI's head of economic analysis, said: "With further job losses on the horizon, manufacturing confidence has deteriorated right across the UK. This has not happened for a year, despite the manufacturing recession."