Birmingham business leaders have called for a clear vision for the UK following the Brexit vote after new research revealed "subdued" conditions and uncertainty across the region's industrial sector.

The quarterly business report, published by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and University of Birmingham, showed that sales had remained at similar levels in the second quarter of 2016 compared with the first.

While regional businesses saw exports surge in the second quarter - with 35 per cent of firms overall reporting an increase in overseas sales compared to 26 per cent in the first quarter - chamber executive Stephanie Wall said lacklustre conditions were unsurprising.

At the time of the Q2 report survey, the business climate consisted of weaker global growth, challenging exchange rates and market uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum.

Ms Wall, senior policy and patron adviser, said: "On balance, business reported more subdued business conditions in Q2.

"Only investment plans and exports countered this with marginal or modest increases respectively.

"Subdued conditions are unsurprising given the uncertainty that the past few months has brought leading up to the EU referendum.

"Now the leave decision has been made, we ask businesses to be positive and avoid knee-jerk reactions.

"We have several years of negotiations ahead before this vote becomes a reality and there is still plenty of business to be done.

"Greater Birmingham still has much to look forward to through projects such as HS2 and the relocation of the HSBC, both creating a high number of jobs and opportunities in the region."