Business confidence among companies in the UK has declined to its lowest level since the height of the recession, according to BDO's Business Trends optimism index.

The index fell to 91.6 last month, from 93.1 in August as businesses worry about what effect the government's cuts will have on the country's economic recovery.

"We are worried that it is already beginning to look as if the government's growth figures don't stack up," said Peter Hemmington of BDO.

"The balance of risks has clearly changed since the election and the chancellor would be wise to consider whether he can go slower than planned with cuts."