Britain's economy has shrunk by almost a fifth in the second quarter, entering recession because of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown, AFP reported quoting revised official data.

Gross domestic product contracted by a record 19.8 per cent in the April-June period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement that revised its initial figure of a 20.4pc slump.

The economy also declined by 2.5pc in the first quarter, the ONS added, worse than the previous figure of a 2.2pc decline.

The grim data confirmed Britain has entered a recession with two successive contractions in economic activity, sparked by a nationwide lockdown on March 23 that was not relaxed fully until early June.