BOURNEMOUTH is weathering the economic climate better than the UK as a whole, according to a business rescue and recovery specialist.

Begbies Traynor released figures which show the number of distressed businesses in the town fell by six per cent in the last quarter of 2010, compared with the same period in 2009.

Dorset followed the trend with a year-on-year five per cent decrease of companies in financial distress while the UK as a whole saw a four per cent increase on the same period in 2009 – the country’s first year-on-year increase for seven quarters.

Of Bournemouth’s distressed businesses, 17 per cent were business-to-business services, such as management holding companies, office machinery maintenance, and security-related businesses, and a further 16 per cent came from the construction sector.

Begbies Traynor partner Julie Palmer said: “The year-on-year comparison for Bournemouth is extremely encouraging and shows how by looking at the bigger picture we appear to still be on the long and winding road to recovery.”