YORKSHIRE bucked the trend to record a fall in the rate of company insolvencies in May, a survey shows.

Figures from business information group Experian showed there were 136 insolvencies in the region last month – down by 9.3% on the tally for May 2010.

The regional failure rate was down to 0.11% from 0.13% before.

Nationally, there were 1,841 business failures during May – 10% up on the month last year. The rate was unchanged at 0.09% of all UK firms.

Experian said the increase was by an increase in the failure rate among smaller firms – particularly those employing six to 10 employees.

Experian director Max Firth said: “By the time a firm grows to six to 10 employees, the flexibility it benefited from as a micro business begins to disappear.”