SMALL businesses are being encouraged to apply for relief from business rates before the end of the month.

Under the Small Business Rate Relief scheme, companies can claim as much as 50 per cent off their rates bills for properties with a rateable value of less than £5,000.

Phil Wood, pictured, managing director of Newcastle accountant Barringtons, warned businesses they should apply to local authorities before the September 30 deadline.

He said millions of pounds of relief went unclaimed every year.

He said: "The Government should be doing far more to promote this scheme to help small firms especially in the current economic climate."