The first three months of 2015 have been surprisingly weak for fund sales in the UK, according to new data from the Investment Association, something managers are blaming on investor nervousness ahead of the general election next week.

Despite a recovering economy, rising bond markets and a buoyant UK stock market - the FTSE 100 broke through the 7,000 mark in March, and has remained in the high 6,900s since - sales of investment funds have been lacklustre compared with a year earlier.