Figures from the Office For National Statistics (ONS) said the UK goods trade deficit reached �3.7bn in February, compared with �3.2bn in January.

Analysts had predicted a deficit of about �3.3bn.

ONS blamed the gap on trade with countries outside the European Union and economists warned that the situation was likely to get worse before it gets better.

Art exports stalled

Overall exports were down almost 5% in February but imports also fell by 1.5%.

With the overseas environment so fragile, the trade position is very likely to get worse before it gets better Jonathan Loynes, Capital Economics

The result was a trade gap of �2.4bn with countries outside the EU, up from �2bn in January.

Within Europe, the trade gap fell only slightly from �1.2bn to �1.25bn.

The ONS said the drop in exports to the US was probably driven by fewer works of art changing hands and may have accounted for half the monthly fall in exports.

Getting worse

Economists at Capital Economics said the latest figures put the UK's trade position back on a widening trend after things had looked to be improving at the end of last year.

"The numbers also mean that net trade is likely to act as a significant drag on GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth in the first quarter of this year," said Jonathan Loynes.

Mr Loynes added that other figures such as weak retail sales point towards a slowing economy.