Britain's biggest gas services company Centrica has tried to play down rumours about its accounting practices.

Shares in the company fell over 20% last week, victim to the continued spate of accounting scandals, which has damaged investor confidence in corporate standards.

Centrica said it is confident its accounting policies as well as their financial and risk management controls are "entirely appropriate for its business."

The group also confirmed that it had no plans to curtail its energy trading activities in the UK, continental Europe or North America.

"The board confirms that it is confident that the company's track record of meeting market expectations will continue," the company said in a statement.

Shares in the company have fallen from 199 pence on 8 July to a closing price of 161 pence on Monday.