WESTON traders have backed a Conservative party plan to help businesses, according to the town's MP.

WESTON traders have backed a Conservative party plan to help businesses, according to the town's MP.

The document calls for the cutting of red tape and bureaucracy and was given the thumbs up by company owners, said John Penrose.

Mr Penrose made the claim after a meeting at The Campus last week in which he laid out the details of the scheme.

He said: "We've seen many businesses fail in Weston over the last year, and the impact on our town has been catastrophic.

"At the moment, small businesses in Weston spend on average seven hours every week filling in official forms and coping with red tape.

"We need to free them from the pointless government forms so they've got the time to concentrate on their customers and their business."

The shadow business minister presented the policy to more than 70 businessmen at the first of a series of events.

North Somerset Industrial Association and Enterprise Agency chairman Charles Walker said: "Let us hope this red tape reduction strategy is implemented as it seems to have many good features to once and for all reverse the rising tide of red tape that is strangling British business."

But for the policy to be enacted the Tories will have to win the general election, which is expected to take place in May.