Slump in new entrants to the Aim

Deloitte, the business advisory firm, said there were just 36 new entrants to the market last year compared with 114 in 2008.

The previous lowest level was 75 in 1998.

Robert Seldon, a partner in the Leeds office, said: "Since the number of companies on Aim peaked in 2007 there has been a steady stream of companies de-listing from the market.

"Either the underlying business has suffered through problems in the wider economy, or the management team has decided that their listing is not giving them value for money, and therefore de-list as a cost-cutting exercise.

"In our region, we have also seen de-listings arise from takeover or restructuring activity, most recently The Medical House."

In 2009, 293 companies de-listed compared with 258 during 2008. The total number of companies on Aim was 1,293 at the end of 2009, compared with 1,549 at the end of 2008, a net fall of 17 per cent in the year.