FLEXIBLE working hours have yet to take a firm hold in the business culture of the North-East, according to a survey.

Despite flexi-time being used increasingly as a way of retaining and motivating staff, a survey by Lloyds TSB Corporate found the number of companies offering the option to staff in the region had fallen.

About a third of North-East companies offer flexible working options to their staff, an eight per cent fall on six months ago.

The most popular way for businesses to give their staff more control over their working day is through flexible hours, with 19 per cent allowing staff some autonomy over when they start and finish.

Of those businesses that offer flexible options, more than half said that improved staff retention has been the main benefit.

Among those not offering staff flexible options, 91 per cent said they had no plans to introduce any and nearly three-quarters said it would not be practical for their business.

Steve Bond, relationship director for Lloyds TSB Corporate, said: "Despite difficulties in recruiting staff over the past six months, and almost two-thirds operating at below full capacity, it seems that the widespread use of flexible work options as a tool to attract and retain staff still has some way to go."