WITH workers at Dyson's Malmesbury factory still reeling from the firm's shock announcement that washing machine production will now move to Malaysia, the Confederation of British Industry has announced that UK manufacturers are at last beginning to see a glimmer of hope.

According to its latest survey, order books for UK manufacturers are at their best level for nine months.

Doug Godden, CBI Head of Economic Analysis, said: "Conditions facing manufacturers have proved disappointing throughout this year.

"Overseas, weak markets have prevented exporters from benefiting from sterling's decline. At home, manufacturers seem to have been missing out on the domestic demand generated by consumers and the Government.

"But this survey provides a glimmer of hope for a revival in fortunes.

"The big question now is whether this will prove another false dawn?"

Firms seeing the biggest improvement were those making goods for direct sale to consumers such as food, drink, pharmaceuticals and electrical goods.

These were followed by makers of intermediate goods, such as chemicals, metals or textiles, which are sold on to be made into finished products.

However, companies do not believe that improved orders will trigger a rise in output in the immediate future.

A balance of minus three per cent suggests output growth will be little different to recent months.

Most firms said stocks of finished goods were adequate or more than adequate to meet demand while only five per cent said they were less than adequate.

Export orders remain just as far below normal this month as last, concluded the report.