Businesses in East Devon say they will do as well or better than those in the rest of the country this year.

According to a New Year survey by South West chartered accountancy firm A C Mole & Sons, the firm found that a third expected to do better than the UK as a whole.

Almost all of the rest of the respondents expected to do at least as well. Only three per cent thought the region would do less well than the rest of the UK.

However, nearly a third of businesses said they were worried that customers would cut back on spending in the New Year.

Availability of finance was less of a concern, with only 12 per cent saying it would be the biggest factor holding them back.