Small businesses in Sussex are finding it hard to get suitable premises.

A third of firms have problems in finding accommodation which meets their needs.

The findings come in office accommodation provider Spacia's small business property monitor, collated from research by Taylor Nelson Sofres.

The monitor is the second annual survey of property needs.

Some 32 per cent of small businesses interviewed found location and budget the most common problems.

When asked what could help them find a property, 64 per cent suggested a database of all the properties available to let.

Some 59 per cent also wanted more flexible leased terms from landlords.

Stephen Barrie, director of Spacia, said: "All of us in the property sector have a responsibility to look at the difficulties facing businesses and act on their suggestions to improve the process.

"Finding property shouldn't be a tortuous process for any company.

"Landlords should not just be property providers but a partner in helping small businesses - the lifeblood of our regional economies - to grow."

Phil Graves, director of Brighton-based commercial agents Graves Jenkins, said the idea of a database was good but impractical.

He said: "The market place is changing on a daily basis. There are business centres in every town offering office accommodation on short-term leases.

"The availability of these units changes quickly and a database would soon be out of date and of little use.

"Businesses should register with centres in their area to be among the first to know what is available."