Support is growing among UK exporters for British adoption of the European single currency, a survey has suggested.

According to the report by international courier group DHL, 52% of exporters believe British membership of the single currency would improve their business prospects, up from 45% in December.

Only 9% thought the euro would be of no help, the lowest reading since 1997, the survey suggests.

The survey tallies with other polls conducted recently.

Sterling support

In January, a poll suggested that support for the euro among the general public had topped 50% - although previous surveys suggested a majority was opposed to the single currency.

And a recent poll conducted by Mori suggested that more than 66% of Britons expected sterling to have disappeared by 2005.

The latest survey suggested that concern over the strength of the pound, which has hit British exports by making them more expensive in countries with weaker currencies, is levelling off.

Since the beginning of the year, the euro has become the cash currency of 12 European Union countries, with the UK, Sweden and Denmark opting out.