Chancellor George Osborne and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney are pulling out of G20 talks in Australia due to the "economic risks" of a potential vote for independence in Scotland.

The two men had been due to attend the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Cairns on September 20 and 21 - after the independence poll.

However, the Bank confirmed Mr Carney, who is due to chair a plenary meeting of the financial stability board of bank regulators in Cairns on Wednesday, will now return early to be back in time for the result.