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Tineke Frikkee, manager of the Newton Higher Income fund, said the biggest uncertainty relating to UK dividend growth in 2009 had been resolved, as only HSBC and Standard Chartered would pay meaningful 2009 dividends out of the UK banks.

She said: "In 2009, 35 per cent of UK dividends will come from UK companies that report their earnings and declare their dividends in US dollars.

The currency move means that we will see more than 30 per cent dividend growth from some UK companies such as Shell, BP and AstraZeneca. In addition, other companies with relatively defensive earnings and strong balance sheets are also likely to deliver above inflation dividend growth in 2009."

Ms Frikkee said he expected firms such as Centrica, GlaxoSmithKline, British American Tobacco, Pearson and Cable & Wireless to deliver this growth.

Ms Frikkee said she also expected there to be more companies reducing their dividend commitment, which would be disappointing for selective investors but was unlikely to be significant for the UK market's dividend growth in 2009 as a whole.

Robert Lockie, chartered financial planner for London-based IFA Bloomsbury Financial Planning, said: "It seems to me if you want to get a stream of dividends from the equity market you should get yourself exposure to the equity market.

"Whatever happens with currencies and exposure to overseas markets will happen and there is not a lot you can do about it. All you can control is what exposure you have."