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A survey has shown that business confidence is making a return to Doncaster.

The report by Doncaster Chamber shows that optimism in the borough has risen 45% in the past three months.

The figures, which have moved from -12% to 33%, show how efforts to overcome the recession have been successful as businesses begin to look toward the opportunity for recovery.

Employment expectations have remained stable over the last three months with the balance of those questioned expecting to recruit/lose staff at +2% for the second successive quarter.

Doncaster Chamber said the statistics make a return to levels not seen since early 2008.

The borough has also seen a 5% rise in home sales and slight increase in cash-flow for its 6,000 businesses.

The report also found that the balance of businesses recording an improvement/worsening in home sales has moved from -23% to -17% evidencing a continuing upward trend over the last six months.

The previous quarter showed an upturn in investment plans in terms of both plant/machinery and also training. However, this has proved to be an anomaly as Doncaster has now fallen behind the national average in a number of instances.

StephenShore, chief executive of Doncaster Chamber, said: "These figures are most encouraging for Doncaster as they suggest the improvement shown in the last quarter has now established a strong trend of recovery.

"Our economy is based on confidence; wealth-creating businesses need to know they will be given the freedom and flexibility to drive the UK out of recession and into a sustainable recovery."

Mr Shore said the risk now was complacency as the pace of recovery could only be maintained with a renewed effort to limit the impact of the recession.

"Cash-flow, capacity utilisation and price pressures remain weak, emphasising the significance of an expansionary short-term policy stance," he continued.