A group of more than 70 MPs have published a letter to BBC director general Tony Hall attacking the broadcaster's Brexit coverage and warning that it could "undermine our efforts to carve out a new, global role for this country".

"It particularly pains us to see how so much of the good economic news we've has since [the] June [referendum] has been skewed by BBC coverage which seems unable to break out of pre-referendum pessimism," the letter says.

Most of the letter's signatories are Conservative MPs. They are joined by Labour MPs Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins and Graham Stringer, along with eight MPs from the DUP, Ukip's Douglas Carswell, and four Lords. The leading signature is Tory MP Julian Knight.

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The letter says the BBC has misrepresented the UK "as either xenophobic or regretful of the Leave vote". It accuses the state-backed broadcaster of falling "far short" of its obligation to report impartial news.

"The posturing and private opinions of EU figures are too often presented as facts, without the vital context that they talking tough ahead of the exit negotiations," the letter says, adding: "BBC bias can have a substantial effect on [the] national debate."

Responding to the letter, a BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is covering the political and financial events following the referendum vote in a responsible and impartial way."