Gordon Brown has delivered a plea for Britons to remain optimistic in the face of the financial crisis.

Despite forecasts that the UK will experience the worst downturn out of the major developed nations, the Prime Minister urged against "talking the country down" as he attends the World Economic Forum in Davos.

But he also gave a stark warning that failure at April's G20 summit in London could have disastrous consequences.

"I am absolutely confident about Britain's future. I have utter confidence in our ability to come through this," he said.

"I have utter confidence not only in the British people's determination to come through this, but that people will work together to make sure Britain emerges from this.

"The British spirit is to see a problem, identify it, and get on with solving it. Once a problem hits us we are determined and resolute and we are adamant that we are going to deal with that problem."

Mr Brown is due to deliver closing remarks to the forum, before flying back to the UK - where he is expected to meet Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

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