Britain’s blue chip companies have seen £40 billion of their pension scheme contributions wiped out by a spike in liabilities after the vote in favour of quitting the European Union.

The estimate is based on Lane Clark & Peacock's annual survey of FTSE 100 schemes and data supplied by its senior partner Bob Scott. It shows scheme deficits rose from £21 billion on June 23, the day of the referendum, to £63 billion on August 9 - a rise of £42 billion. Total FTSE 100 scheme liabilities were £628 billion at the end of July, according to the survey.