Avon Rubber rose sharply on news of a contract to supply 500,000 gas masks to the US armed forces. The deal, worth $112m, requires Avon to deliver 100,000 military respirators each year for five years, and the company said it expected additional orders in the near future. Avon jumped 11.3 per cent to 96p.

London black cab maker Manganese Bronze advanced 7 per cent to 483.7p after it said its joint venture in China was making "excellent progress". It also revealed it had signed memoranda of understanding to sell 2,500 taxis worldwide.