Only one-fifth of firms believe the Government should take Britain into the euro during this parliament, a poll has revealed.

Sixty-six per cent of chief executives at large, small and medium-sized companies were against replacing the pound with the single currency.

The ICM poll, commissioned by the "no" campaign, marked the 10th anniversary of the pounds enforced departure from the European exchange-rate mechanism (ERM).

It shows Tony Blair could face a harder task than expected in trying to win over the business community to the benefits of signing up to the euro.

ICM asked more than 500 firms across the UK whether they wanted to join the single currency and when they felt the best time would be.

One in five wanted to join in this parliament while 12 per cent preferred to wait, 29 per cent ruled out membership altogether and 39 per cent kept their options open.

Only a quarter of larger companies, where support for the euro was strongest, were in favour of signing up before the next election.

Two-thirds of all firms were against replacing the pound, with small and medium-sized firms overwhelmingly opposed to the euro.

More than half those chief executives quizzed by ICM thought joining the euro would be bad for the British economy.

Sir David Lees, chairman of aerospace group GKN and sugar giant Tate and Lyle, said: "This poll continues to show business is split on the euro and there is no advantage to business as a whole from joining the single currency."

The "no" campaign marked the 10th anniversary of Black Wednesday by mailing its business case against the euro to 90,000 manufacturers.

The campaign is fronted by John Pilling, managing director of privately-owned Brintons Carpets.

He said: "The effect of the ERM on our business was crippling.

"In 1990, Brintons made a profit of £7.7 million.

Three years later, we reported a loss of £2.6 million and almost 400 employees had lost their jobs."