Bosses have called on the government to increase help for exporters.

On Wednesday the CBI urged the government give UK businesses the same level of help on export credits as firms in Germany, France and America.

Ministers are currently considering the future of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, which acts as a guarantor for British firms trading abroad.

The business group called for the government to appoint a top quality chief executive to run the department and offer high quality support to UK exporters.

It warned that if ministers failed to act, jobs and skills would simply be lost to foreign competitors.

The CBI's deputy director general, John Cridland, revealed he has lobbied trade secretary Patricia Hewitt, urging her to use the review to revitalise the agency.

"The ECGD is vital to business but sadly it has been left to wither on the vine for the past four years," Cridland said.

"It has lost its enviable reputation as a world class export credit agency and is now in the relegation zone. Urgent action is needed if the ECGD is to regain the confidence of business."