BOLTON North East has been the most successful area in the borough for launching new businesses over the past five years, new figures show.

New figures have shown that since the coalition government came to power in 2010, just under 3,500 firms have been set-up in the constituency, which includes the town centre as well as areas such as Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Astley Bridge, Halliwell and Tonge with the Haulgh.

The constituency also saw 2,608 firms dissolved during the course of the parliament — which ended in March — meaning the net increase in established businesses was 816 over the five years.

The figures were compiled by company records managers Informdirect.com.

One of the newly launched businesses in the area is the Bolton Deli in the town centre, with owner Stuart Jones signing a lease for the Great Moor Street premises in December before opening recently.

Mr Jones said: “There have been a lot of challenges in setting up the new business but I do feel like things are starting to get better with the economy and people are a little bit more prepared to spend money.

“I chose to open in this location in the town centre because of everything that is being developed here, especially the new town centre interchange which is across the road from us.”

The figures for Bolton North East compare favourably with the borough’s two other parliamentary constituencies.

In Bolton West — which includes Heaton, Lostock, Horwich, Blackrod, Smithills, Westhoughton and Atherton — there were 1,754 new businesses launched while 1,613 firms closed their doors, meaning the net increase in businesses was just 141.

The figure was even lower for Bolton South East — which includes Farnworth, Great Lever, Harper Green, Hulton, Kearsley, Rumworth, Little Lever and Darcy Lever.

The constituency has seen 1,830 businesses set-up since 2010 but a similar number of firms have been shut down — working out at a net increase of 138 businesses.

The data also shows how the different constituencies have fared in terms of the number of businesses that have remained open throughout the five year period.

Bolton West comes out on top of this list, with 50 per cent of the firms that were active before the last government came in remaining in business in March 2015.

Both Bolton North East and Bolton South East registered the slightly lower figure of 45 per cent.

Speaking about the figures, David Crausby, who was the MP for Bolton North East during the five-year-period and is standing for re-election in May, said: “It is a credit to the constituency that people have done something to sort out their lives in what has been a difficult time.”

Mr Crausby is being challenged for the parliamentary seat by James Daly (Conservatives), Laura Diggle (Greens) Harry Lamb (UKIP) and Stephen Rock (Liberal Democrats).