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The UK's trade gap fell unexpectedly in June to reach its smallest level since October 2005, as the balance of oil exports moved into surplus for the first time in almost two years.

Data issued by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the country's global goods trade deficit, a measure of the difference between what Britain exports and imports, narrowed to £3.6 billion in June.

Officials also confirmed that the deficit stood at £3.7 billion in May, having previously forecast that the gap would be £3.5 billion for that month.

Britain's trade position was boosted by a growth in oil exports after a new North Sea oil field came on stream.

The impact of production at the Buzzard oil field helped push the country's oil balance into a £257 million monthly surplus, the first time the UK has exported more crude oil than it has imported since March 2005.

Meanwhile despite the deficit with European Union (EU) countries remaining "virtually unchanged" in June at £2.9 billion, the deficit with non-EU countries did narrow to £3.4 billion.

The gap for countries outside the EU had stood at £3.5 billion in May, but rising exports of oil, intermediate goods and consumer products other than cars saw the deficit fall.

Analysts said that the latest trade figures would fuel hopes that UK economic growth was becoming more balanced, amid fears that the expansion of the economy is being fuelled by consumer spending rather than an increase in export levels.

Global Insight chief economist Howard Archer said exports excluding oil had grown by 2.6 per cent, on a monthly basis, in June.

"This indicates that the boost to UK exports from current healthy global growth is currently more than countering the dampening impact of the pound's strength," he explained.