Research from the Forum of Private Businesses (FPB) failed to find a single respondent who believes bank support for companies has improved.

The organisation's latest Economic Downturn Panel shows that half of firms believe help from financial institutions has not increased, while the other half believes it is deteriorating.

When quizzed about government support to increase lending, 59 per cent of small businesses said they have experienced no improvement and 35 per cent think it has gotten worse, with just five per cent providing a positive response.

Phil Orford, chief executive of the FPB, comments: 'It is vital that both government and the banks raise their game to ensure that their public commitments to deliver additional funding are properly understood and promoted at a regional and local level.'

He also claims that banks regard small businesses as 'high risk', which allows them to demand more security on loans, increase charges and apply high rates.

Recent research from the Confederation of British Industry suggested that businesses expect credit conditions to remain difficult over the next quarter, with almost 60 per cent saying availability has deteriorated in the past three months.

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