Sussex offers entrepreneurs a good location in which to start their company, a business leader said today.

Mark Froud, chief executive of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, told the Argus that business failure is low compared with other areas in the south-east.

"A total of 82 per cent of start-up businesses in Sussex survive their first two years compared to 80 per cent in Berkshire," he told the publication.

He added that there has been a "steady increase" in VAT-registered companies across the region during the past 15 years.

Describing how the Olympics in 2012 would positively affect businesses in Sussex, Mr Froud said that the service, construction and tourism industries would have "enormous" opportunities.

Created in 1946, the Sussex Chamber of Commerce - known as Sussex Enterprise - is owned by local businesses through their membership.

With more than 2,500 member companies, it is one of the largest chambers of commerce in Britain.