Data from industry body UK Finance showed that number of mortgages approved for British house purchases edged up to one of its highest levels in the past two years last month, though credit card lending grew at a slower pace.

Consumer demand has generally been robust since Britain voted to leave the EU in June 2016, but the housing market has slowed.

The number of mortgages approved for house purchase rose to 42,653 in June, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, up from 42,407 in May and close to April's two-year high of 42,792. Economists had expected an increase to 42,900.

Net credit card lending slowed to 119 million pounds in June from 247 million pounds in May, the lowest since a contraction of 54 million pounds in December 2018.