Staff at a chemical factory in north-western France are working to stop a gas leak that has spread a foul smell from Paris to south-eastern England.

MPs will hear calls later for a full inquiry into allegations of the blacklisting of workers on major public projects such as Crossrail and the Olympics.

Regional airline Flybe says it is planning to cut about 300 jobs as part of a programme to return the carrier to profitability.

German industrial giant Siemens reports a fall in quarterly profits, adding it expects no help this year from the weak global economy.

The number of people out of work fell by 37,000 between September and November to 2.49 million, official figures show.

Anglo-Dutch food giant Unilever says it has exceeded 50bn euros (£42bn) in annual turnover for the first time, helped by growth in emerging markets.

France says it will welcome any firms that leave the UK if it decides to exit the EU, as British business leaders react to plans to change the terms of membership.

"Substantial headwinds" to a UK economic recovery remain, including the value of the pound, minutes of the Bank of England's last policy setting meeting show.