The UK has moved up from ninth to sixth place in the latest annual World Bank and International Finance Corporation's Doing Business Report.

The report looks at how long it takes and how easy or difficult it is to meet Government demands when it comes to start ups, tax, trade, operation and closure.

Professor Stephen Roper, from Aston Business School, told icBirmingham:

"The ease of opening and closing a business pulls Britain sharply up the ranks. But when you look at actually running a business, the picture looks much worse."

Singapore came out as the world's best place to do business, followed by former table-topper New Zealand and then the US in third position.