E-business is here to stay, according to Sussex chartered accountants.

Electronic trading will flourish, despite recent setbacks, said 93 per cent of those surveyed at the profession's recent annual conference.

Two out of every three said they had already adopted an e-commerce strategy for their own businesses and a further one in four said they intended to do so in the next 12 months.

Roland Brook, of the South Eastern Society of Chartered Accountants, said: "The profession is not only keeping up with the incredible rate of change brought on by the new economy but is positively embracing it as an integral part of business planning.

"Most chartered accountants are at ease with new technology.

"By adopting a flexible and innovative approach to the dot com revolution, we are gaining a real edge with e-commerce."

Mr Brook, who is a member of the IT Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, added: "The annual conference is a case in point.

"The event had online booking for the first time and was webcast live from the institute's website."