MORE than 1,000 new businesses have been set up in East Lancashire in just four months, new figures show.

Encouraging research suggests the area has pulled through the worst of the recession and confidence is returning to the sector.

The Business Link North West figures come after the service teamed up with the Lancashire Telegraph for the ‘We’re Back Business’ camp-aign earlier this year. The initiative is designed to offer companies advice and support as they battle through the economic downturn.

And evidence suggests the campaign succeeding.

As well as more than 1,000 new businesses operating across East Lancashire, experts also report 1,200 fewer companies listed as at risk of collapsing.

In April, 14,086 were in danger of failing but that has dropped to 12,880, with 400 fewer in Blackburn with Darwen alone.

Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and Hyndburn also have fewer companies at risk of collapsing, according to data specialist Experian.

Peter Watson, managing director of Business Link North West, said: “This is extremely encouraging news for busin-esses and the overall economy in East Lancashire but we must not be lulled into a false sense of security.

“Trading conditions cont-inue to provide challenges for businesses but we can take some comfort from the fact that many appear to be following the advice offered by our campaign.

“East Lancashire continues to compare favourably with the rest of the North West in terms of its commercial risk, with a large percentage of businesses managing their way through the recession very effectively.

“We must ensure that those businesses that are struggling access the support they need.”