HIGH Wycombe has emerged as the most prosperous town in Buckinghamshire for business for the second year running, a new survey has revealed.

Business information company Dun & Bradstreet's (D&B) Key British Enterprises survey also showed that the town came 36th in the country with 80.5 per cent of its businesses making a profit.

Aylesbury came 92nd and Milton Keynes took 60th place.

Last year, High Wycombe came equal sixth in the country with 87.5 per cent of these businesses showing a profit.

Top spot in 2001 was taken by Grimsby with 88.5 per cent of businesses surveyed in profit.

The county as a whole came 22nd out of the 67 counties covered by the survey produced annually since 1994 by D&B in Holmers Farm Way, High Wycombe.

Philip Mellor, author of the survey, said: "The fact that High Wycombe is the top performing town in Bucks is no mean achievement.

"There is no case for concern on how companies are actually performing. Other areas have improved marginally more."

Mr Mellor added: "D&B regards itself as very fortunate to have moved out of London and relocated to High Wycombe.

"We have noticed the improvements to the town and the advantages in terms of communications of being on the edge of the M40.

"I am not surprised now to see the town heading the league of Buckinghamshire towns in terms of major business profits for the second year running."

Bill McCardle, policy and communications manager at the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industry said: "It is a positive endorsement for Bucks. High Wycombe is a good location because of its proximity to London and its good rail, road and air networks, as well as having a good spread of good-size and small companies."

A Wycombe District Council spokesman said: "Being placed, for the second year running, as the most profitable town in Buckinghamshire is a very positive statement in respect of the sustained profitability of the 'big businesses' included within the D&B survey.

"The council is also very encouraged by the supportive comments made by the survey's author on High Wycombe, particularly in respect to the improvements to the town and the communications advantages."