The weaker pound has failed to help UK exports to the EU

The global goods trade deficit rose to �3.6bn ($5.9bn), up from a downwardly-revised �3.0bn, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported.

Overall, exports dropped 5.2% while imports fell only 1.3%, the ONS said.

The deficit with the EU widened to �2.0bn from �1.3bn the month before, raising fresh concerns about growth in the moribund eurozone economy.

Silver lining?

It had been hoped that the drop in the pound's value against the euro in the first half of this year would boost British exports by making them cheaper in EU markets.

Britain currently does around half of its trade with the eurozone countries.

But in spite of the wider deficit, the ONS said the underlying trend in the global goods trade deficit was falling.

The total trade deficit, which includes Britain's traditional surplus on trade in services such as shipping and insurance, came in at �2.8bn, up from �2.3bn the month before.