Record number of new businesses are being launched as more and more residents take the leap to fulfil their dreams of owning their own company.

The first half of 2013 saw a new record for company registrations in Brighton and Hove, according to business website Duport, with more than 1,000 companies being formed.

Entrepreneurs said that new company creation was being aided by Government support schemes, an improving economic outlook and more and more people taking the plunge.

There were 4.4% more companies created compared to the same period last year, although Brighton and Hove lags behind the country as a whole, which saw the number of new companies jump by 6.4%.

The rate of newly-registered companies in the city has doubled since 2004, despite a significant drop following the economic crash in 2007.

On the flip side of the coin, there was also a four-year high in companies going bust, with 11.7% more firms dissolved than in the first six months of 2012.

Among the most frequent new firms set up in the city over the past two years are 132 management consultancy companies, 46 pubs and bars, 42 film production companies and 30 dental practices.

Gavin Stewart, manager at the Brighton Business Improvement District, said: “There is certainly a more positive air than in previous years. The outlook, in general, is quite hopeful.

“As we move out of the recession new businesses are certainly noticeable in the BID area in the city centre, with many of the long-term vacant premises being taken up by first-time entrepreneurs.”

Small Batch coffee shop co-owner Nigel Lambe, who is launching a new café Velo at The Level in Brighton later this month, said: “I think people are realising that there are no jobs for life anymore and so a lot of people are taking a risk, necessity being the mother of invention.”

Russ Perryment launched footwear firm Lazes with friend Ben Hollingsworth earlier this year.

He said: “The reason me and my partner started our company was because we wanted to gain an additional income to our main jobs which we felt were going a bit stagnant.

"I think a lot of people are looking for more options and that is bringing out the entrepreneur in people.”