GEORGE Osborne appealed for voters to "stay the course" with his economic prescription today as he hailed surging growth.

Delivering his last Autumn Statement before the general election, the Chancellor said forecasts showed Britain was booming.

"Today in the last Autumn Statement of this parliament I present a forecast that shows the UK is the fastest growing of any advanced economy in the world," he said.

Mr Osborne said the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was predicting growth of 3% this year - up from the previous estimate of 2.7%.

He also said 500,000 jobs had been created over the past year, and inflation and the deficit were falling.

"Now Britain faces a choice," he said.

"Do we squander the economic security we have gained, go back to the disastrous decisions on spending and borrowing and welfare that got us into this mess?

"Or do we finish the job - and go on building the secure economy that works for everyone.

"I say: we stay the course. We stay on course to prosperity."

Mr Osborne said the OBR growth estimates for this year - revised upwards from 2.7% to 3% - showed the coalition's pace of fiscal consolidation was right.

"Now there are those who say we should cut even faster, and those who say we should cut more slowly.

"But we've got the pace right - as clearly demonstrated by the fact that our economy is growing faster than almost any other.

"And because of careful management, we can afford to put part of that underspend money into our National Health Service to cope with the pressures it faces."

He said 500,000 jobs had been created over the past year, and inflation and the deficit was falling.

Mr Osborne dismissed suggestions that many of the posts created were part time, insisting 85% were full time. They are also being generated fastest in Scotland and the North of England.