BREXIT will damage the economic performance of Taunton Deane, according to new report.

The Centre for Economic Performance believes the economy in the district will take a 1.2 per cent hit under a sort Brexit - that is to say if Britain remains in the single market and the customs union.

But a hard Brexit - leaving the two organisations - would see the economy suffer to the tune of 2.3 per cent.

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West, said: “This new study shows that both a hard and soft form of Brexit will have a devastating impact on the economic performance of our towns and cities across the South West.

"However, it finds that a hard Brexit scenario – removing us from the single market and customs union – will have the most damaging impact.”

Dr Scott Cato added: "By pledging to remove the UK from the single market, both the Tories and Labour reveal their economic incompetence.

"Neither can make any claim to be the Party of business. The hard Brexit policies of both risk destroying jobs and damaging the economy of towns and cities across the South West.

“My conversations with businesses across the region over the past year have made clear that they are strongly in favour of remaining in the single market. But the customs union is also critical."