The number of businesses failing in the region has stabilised over the last month.

New statistics from Deloitte & Touche show 16 Yorkshire firms went into receivership in September - the same as in August. The figures were in contrast to the national picture, where there was a 20 per cent jump.

Reorganisation services partner for the Leeds office of Deloitte & Touche, Angus Martin, said: "These figures offer some reassurance given the rise in the national total, but they still remain the highest in Yorkshire for September since 1995. Business confidence remains extremely fragile with the current events in Afghanistan and continuing terrorist threats against the US."