The annual rate of insolvencies among leisure businesses fell by 11.6 per cent during 2010 - the first time in two years that the figure has decreased.

In total, 1,428 companies that described their primary market as leisure or hotels failed during 2010.

The figures come from the latest research by Experian.

Max Firth, Experian managing director, said: "2010 has been a period of relative stability for business insolvencies and the improving trend in the insolvency rate has been positive.

"This contrasts significantly to the last major recession of the early 1990s when the rate escalated over a long period and peaked even as the country came out of recession."