Areas of the UK which have been in decline have seen rejuvenation thanks to technological advances and the internet, it has been suggested.

A new survey from BT found that online innovations have boosted prospects and possibilities for businesses, prompting growth in the number of start-ups.

High-speed broadband was identified a key stimulator of growth for small businesses in the UK, while e-commerce was highlighted as a driving force for three-quarters of the firms surveyed.

The BT Business Regeneration Report showed that some 84 per cent of companies in Northern Ireland said that their business was located in an area of regeneration, while nearly two-thirds of firms in the north-east and London held the same view about their areas.

Small firms looking to make full use of IT in today's business world may now choose to use the internet to market their company through the web and attempt to attract customers who want to buy products or services online.