UK nosedives into recession after GDP plunges 20% between April and June

The grim second-quarter figures showed the UK suffered the biggest economic hit from the pandemic in western Europe

A recession is defined as two successive quarters of decline in gross domestic product (GDP).

Britain has officially entered into the largest recession on record after figures showed the pandemic sent the economy plunging by 20.4% between April and June.

The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed the nosedive into recession for the first time since the financial crisis after the record-breaking contraction in the second quarter, which follows a 2.2% fall in the previous three months.