NEW data has shown that 547 businesses were started in South Lakeland in the first nine months of this year.

This figure is down four per cent on the same period last year, but is the highest in Cumbria compared to Eden (250), Barrow (298), Allerdale (355), Copeland (303) and Carlisle (358).

The make-up of local start-ups is limited companies 43.4 per cent, sole traders 41.5 per cent, other for profit start-ups (mainly partnerships) 11.3 per cent and not for profit 3.8 per cent.

In South Lakeland 53 new businesses started up in September 2014, Broughton-in-Furness saw the most start-ups, while Windermere Bowness North saw the least.

The figures were compiled by BankSearch, and were released by Cumbria Intelligence Observatory.