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Trade has decreased for rural shops as they become the 'silent victims' of the credit crunch, with the majority saying the pre-Budget report did not help them, a survey reveals.

Figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) show that four in five rural retailers questioned do not feel the government is helping them.

Of the 500 rural FSB members asked, almost 60 per cent said they expect sales to be lower this year than last Christmas.

The majority also reported they do not feel better placed to cope with the economic downturn since the publication of the pre-Budget report last month.

John Wright, national chairman of the FSB, says: 'Rural businesses are as integral to the wellbeing of our economy as the turkey is to our festive dinner. These figures show that small businesses in rural Britain are the silent victims of the credit crunch.'

The organisation has proposed moves to help these firms, which include creating free parking in all towns and villages over Christmas, scrapping fuel duty rises planned for next year and ensuring a 'substantial proportion' of the government money allocated to small businesses goes to rural companies.

The FSB recently supported a plan to launch a national email network to connect members running businesses in rural locations, in order to give them more support.

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