THE Bank of England's rate-setting committee has been warned against using "shock treatment" to rein in the economy.

The manufacturing sector accepted a quarter per cent rise in interest rates by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) yesterday, but warned that its recent fragile recovery could be shattered if there were further increases.

While the service industry continues to enjoy healthy growth, manufacturing has had a more difficult time, but data suggested it was improving.

Alan Hall, regional director of the Engineering Employers Federation, said: "While higher rates are not particularly welcome at such an early stage in recovery, manufacturers understand that this rise may help to preserve economic stability in the longer run.

"We urge the MPC to continue to move forward gradually, ignoring calls for shocks that would be damaging for confidence and could also send sterling higher."

George Cowcher, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "We were hoping that the Bank of England might take a more sympathetic view for the manufacturing sector and leave rates unchanged.

"It looks as though the committee has decided that further action was necessary to counter the latest rise in house prices and spiralling consumer debt.

"Latest figures on mortgage lending and retail spending may also have helped tip the balance."

The MPC has made a series of incremental increases in an attempt to slow the economy down, curb borrowing and cool off the housing market.

Despite this, inflation is lagging below the Chancellor's target and there have been warnings that rapid house price growth and debt accumulation has given an unbalanced picture of Britain's economic state.

Peter Allan, chairman of the North-East region of the Institute of Directors, said: "The Bank of England had to raise interest rates in order to stem the double-digit growth in household debt and house prices.

"If the Bank of England had not raised interest rates, they would have been guilty of negligence.

"We are about to enter a tense period which will decide whether the housing market slows with a hiss or bursts with a pop."