Rolls-Royce has become the latest company to be hit by the economic downturn as it revealed plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs next year.

The Derby-based jet engine maker, which saw a 17 per cent increase in its orderbook to £53.5bn between January and June, blamed the cutbacks in part on delays in development programmes for new aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787.