Nearly 70,000 new companies were formed in the South East of England last year - up 10 per cent on the previous 12 months.

A survey by national corporate services firm Jordans revealed that the number of businesses created in the region between December 2006 and December 2007 has increased by nearly 7,000.

Paul Townsend, Director of Corporate Services, said: "New enterprises were formed in the south east - outside greater London - at a rate equivalent to almost 6,000 a month."

"Although there is a view that that we have yet to see the full extent of the economic downturn, there appears to be no shortage of people prepared to take the plunge and launch their own business."

Jordans is an independent firm specialising in company formations and business information.