THERE were 4,323 company insolvencies in England and Wales in the final quarter of last year, on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The DTI say the figure was an increase of 11.1 per cent on the previous quarter and a rise of 14.9 per cent on the same period a year ago.

Statistics also disclose there were 7,917 individual insolvencies in England and Wales in the fourth quarter, an increase of 1.6 per cent on the previous quarter and up by 7.8 per cent on the same period a year ago.