The county's public sector net borrowing reached £11.4bn for October, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The figure was the highest since records began and means that public sector net debt as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) totaled 59% in October. The record rise for the month takes public sector net borrowing for the financial year so far to £86.9bn

Public borrowing is already forecast by the Treasury to reach £175bn this year but the figures could have to be revised higher by Chancellor Alistair Darling in December's pre-budget.