The UK economy grew for the third successive month during July - but remains well below the levels it hit before the coronavirus pandemic.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the economy expanded by 6.6 per cent in July, helped by the reopening of hairdressers, pubs and restaurants after lockdown.

But that growth was slower than the 8.7 per cent rise in June and left the economy 11.7 per cent smaller than it was in February - the last full month before lockdown measures were introduced.

The reopening of pubs and restaurants helped the alcohol industry grow by 32.7 per cent with the car sector seeing demand rise.

ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said: "Car sales exceeded pre-crisis levels for the first time with showrooms having a particularly busy time.

"All areas of manufacturing, particularly distillers and car makers, saw improvements, while housebuilding also continued to recover."