Jobs in London have been growing twice as fast as the UK as a whole in recent years, showing an "unbalanced" economic recovery, according to new research.

The TUC said a study of the economy since 2010 showed the capital was outperforming other parts of the country, while the weakest recovery was in the North West and Northern Ireland.

From 2010 to 2014, jobs grew by 11% in London compared with 5% for the UK, and six times faster than the North West, said the report.

In 2013 economic activity in London accounted for 22% of the value of the entire UK economy, up from 21% in 2010 and 19% in 1997, said the TUC.

General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "We need a recovery that works for the whole of the UK, but cuts to infrastructure and services have hit places that are most in need of investment.

"We now have an unbalanced recovery that is too weak outside of London, too dependent on families getting into debt, and too focused on jobs in low-paid service industries.

"UK regions won't become powerhouses of growth and job creation unless they are powered-up by investment in skills, infrastructure and decent public services - but the Chancellor's extreme cuts will mean pulling the plug.

"We need a better economic plan that prioritises balanced growth across the UK by targeting investment to communities that are most in need of modern infrastructure and more decent jobs."

A Government spokesman said: "Closing the long term gaps between the north and south of England and between London and other major cities, so that all parts of the UK share in the benefits of economic growth is an absolute Government priority.

"Good progress was made over the last Parliament with 1.2 million more private sector jobs in England outside London and the South East than in 2010, but there is more to do and that's why rebalancing the economy through investment and the decentralisation Bill will form the backbone of our recovery plans."