Business start ups in South Norfolk are bucking the national trend with the area highlighted as one of the fastest growing in the country according to new research.

A joint BBC/Experian report said that 402 companies were established in the district in 2010 placing the district in the top 10 of the highest ranking growth areas while North Norfolk and the Broadland areas were both in the top 50. The number of businesses exporting was highest in Great Yarmouth while within the region Norwich was highlighted as the top area for future growth potential.

South Norfolk Council leader John Fuller said: 'Performance like that doesn't just happen. The public sector has invested �225,000 in the genome analysis centre at the Norwich Research Park (NRP) and that's provided a genuine edge in life sciences, but the figures are also showing that most of the growth has been outside the NRP and Hethel Engineering Centre.

Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman said: 'Record levels of new business growth in rural Norfolk proves that Norfolk can lead the country to economic recovery. Many of our new start-ups are in the life sciences sector, linking to the internationally renowned Norwich Research Park. As Government Life Science Advisor I know there are many more business growth opportunities that stem from the agricultural technology, biomedical and energy research that the NRP is famous for. The recent �26m funding by the government to expand the NRP is already proving to be a wise investment.'