The UK economy grew by 0.6% between April and June, first estimates suggest.

The figure is in line with forecasts and follows a 0.7% increase in the first three months of this year.

Growth was led by the services sector, in particular the IT industry, legal services and scientific research.

Services are the biggest contributor to the UK’s economy, far outstripping manufacturing and construction, both of which saw output fall between April and June.

“The UK economy has now grown strongly for two quarters, following the weakness we saw in the second half of last year,” said Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the Office for National Statistics, which released the figures.

Last year, the UK economy fell into a shallow and short-lived recession.

A recession is defined as economic activity shrinking for two three-month periods – or quarters – in a row.