Nearly three-quarters of all businesses in Cornwall only have enough cash reserves to survive for another two or three months if the coronavirus crisis continues.

The shocking figure was revealed by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce which said that 92% of firms said that Coronavirus has had a "significant impact" on their business.

And chamber chief executive Kim Conchie has warned that if government support does not help businesses then the future for Cornwall is bleak.

He said:

"With the money that the Government has put in with loans and relief for businesses, if those don't get into the hands of businesses very quickly or they don't have the desired effect we will see Cornwall's business landscape decimated like never before.

"This is unbelievable."

A survey undertaken by the chamber of commerce, which has had 540 responses, asked businesses how long they could survive on cash reserves if the current restrictions continue – 15% of firms said they could only last a week, 24% said one to four weeks and 32% said two to three months.

Yesterday it was revealed that Cornwall Council was the best performing authority in the country for getting government business grants out to local companies, paying out more than £116 million to 10,000 businesses.

Mr Conchie said that while the council should be congratulated for its efforts he was aware of companies which did not fit the criteria which had been set by the Government for the funding and for loans which have been made available.

He said this was particularly the case for businesses which only have a small number of employees or are one man bands – sole traders.

Mr Conchie said:

"In Cornwall we have a slightly greater preponderance of micro businesses and sole traders, they are just going to collapse basically."

He said the support at the moment was going to those businesses which are easier to find and he was lobbying to ensure every business is able to get support.

"Cornwall Council is top of the league table, that is great news and they should be congratulated for that. My fear is that they take their foot off the gas now they are top of the table.

"We are lobbying council hard to maintain the pressure to help all those different businesses."

Mr Conchie said the hospitality and retail industry in Cornwall had been particularly, having been preparing all winter for the season to start at Easter and now it wouldn't be starting at all.

"Before this happened we were looking forward to a good year as people were reluctant to go abroad due to Brexit, not being able to get pet passports and uncertainty about flights.

"But the view from the hospitality industry is horrific. If, at the end of April the Government is able to relax some of the lockdown rules then we might be able to have a summer season.

"It is not just the tourism and hospitality side but also all the other businesses which supply into those including food and attractions and so on – they are all affected.

"If there is some sort of summer season it might be able to recover."

However, he also highlighted that the manufacturing industry in Cornwall was also affected due to issues with exporting and supply.

But Mr Conchie recognised that there had been positive stories in Cornwall regarding businesses which had been innovative in switching so they can deliver products and services direct to people's homes.

He also highlighted the number of stories around companies offering to help those in need and the most vulnerable in Cornwall.

He said:

"Businesses in Cornwall are very much part of the community. The heartwarming stories we hear about how they are helping others and how some furloughed staff are going out to volunteer across the board.

"It is a testament to Cornwall's collaborative power and that is positive that is coming out of this. Cornwall shouldn't underestimate the power of collaboration.

"As we emerge from this the business sector will have to collaborate in order to flourish in the future. Collaboration is not just a nice thing to do, it is essential in this landscape."

And Mr Conchie also paid tribute to the Cornish public for supporting local businesses during these difficult times.

He said:

"For the public in Cornwall owning a business is not just something that other people do – many people are running these businesses themselves.

"The public are absolutely side by side with businesses and they are an integral part of the community here.

"People will be buying local and supporting local businesses where they can – we have to keep to social distancing but if we can support local businesses hopefully they will be able to emerge from this afterwards."