Rural firms are suffering in silence this Christmas, new research suggests.
According to figures released by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), most small business insurance customers in the country have seen trade fall this year with four out of every five claiming the government is not doing enough to help them out of the downturn.
The FSB's survey of 500 members based in rural areas found nearly 60 per cent say they expect Christmas trade will be down compared to last year.
FSB national chairman John Wright said: "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."
He added that short-term action is urgently needed to help rural firms beat the squeeze.
Mr Wright continued that if this does not happen and rural firms are not supported the UK could see its markets, towns and villages become extinct.
The FSB claimed last week that small businesses were being put off from employing people because of the red tape associated with employment law.
