AKIPRESS.COM - Leaving the European Union would threaten jobs and put the UK's economy at risk, business leaders from some of Britain's biggest companies have said, reports BBC.

Bosses - including those of BT, Marks & Spencer and Vodafone - signed a letter published in the Times, saying an EU exit would deter investment in the UK.

However, Leave.EU said leaving would cut "unnecessary" regulation and costs.

On Monday, PM David Cameron told MPs leaving the union would hurt working people in the UK "for years to come".

Chairmen or chief executives of 36 FTSE 100 companies - the UK's biggest firms - signed the letter backing the campaign to remain in the EU.

The FTSE bosses were among 198 business bosses who signed the letter.

It said the PM had secured a commitment from the EU "to reduce the burden of regulation, deepen the single market and to sign-off crucial international trade deals".

They wrote: "Business needs unrestricted access to the European market of 500 million people in order to continue to grow, invest and create jobs."

"Britain will be strong, safer and better off remaining a member of the EU," they added.