The Bradford chairman of Business for Sterling Yorkshire has launched a scathing New Year attack on the euro.

Marketing entrepreneur and past president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Judith Donovan CBE, is claiming the Government's policy over joining the currency is "in shreds".

Mrs Donovan also argues that there is "no prospect" of economic conditions being right for Britain to join the euro in "the foreseeable future."

Her remarks come only days after 12 European countries - including France, Italy, Germany and Spain - adopted the new notes and coins.

Commenting on recent statements by Treasury official Gus O'Donnell, who said the decision to join would ultimately be a political one, she said: "Yorkshire businesses want certainty.

"If the Government fails to listen to even its own advisers, then we will know it is driving forward a euro campaign for political reasons and that it is prepared to put its own political ambitions ahead of British jobs and prosperity.

"The UK has done better by keeping the pound. Our unemployment rate is half the level of the 'eurozone' countries and we have the best outlook of any economy. Replacing the pound would lead to a loss of economic control and take us back to the boom-and-bust past."

Mrs Donovan's statements coincide with the regional 'no' campaign's launch of leaflets and posters. The leaflets urge the Government: "Never mind the euro, it's the hospitals."

But supporters of the euro, represented by Yorkshire and the Humber in Europe, say the Government's decision to delay joining has already cost the region 7,800 jobs.

Pro-euro business leaders also claim that being part of a shared currency will boost British trade with other EU members.