Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire have urged the new coalition Government to provide the base for a sustained economic recovery.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the Conservative/Liberal Democrat axis must give business the freedom to grow and create jobs.

She said: "Businesses in this region were concerned about the effects of a hung Parliament but, thankfully, the decision to form a coalition hasn't dragged on for too long.

"On the face of it, we have a relatively stable Government formed from this coalition and it is vital now that they work quickly to introduce measures that put business growth firmly at the centre of policy.

"A clear plan to cut the deficit must be presented but it cannot be at the detriment of the country's infrastructure which is crucial for the economy to grow.

"The recovery, as we have said many times before, has to be business-led. Rolling back the proposed increases to employer contributions to National Insurance and cutting the red tape and other tax burdens that strangle companies will be a very good start in helping businesses to start growing again.

"Any new Government faces a testing time but the present circumstances in terms of the economic fragility and the fact that there was no overall majority present extra challenges.

"But that cannot stand in the way of making the right decisions that will get the economy growing again and provide the basis for a sustained, stable recovery."