There was a spike in the number of UK companies going into liquidation in March, new data findings show.
Analysis of public notices placed in The London Gazette - the official public record site - reveals a clear rise in businesses appointing liquidators last month.
There is a delay between liquidators being appointed and notices being published in The Gazette, meaning it is not yet possible to tell how effective the government's package for businesses has been at stopping the rise in liquidations.
The week of March 9 - before Boris Johnson told people to work from home if they could - saw 1,100 companies go into liquidation.
And a massive 1,170 companies went into liquidation the week before.
That is compared to 782 liquidators appointed the week of Feb 24, 557 the week starting Feb 17, and just 538 the week starting February 10.
A spokesperson for the Treasury said: "The chancellor has been clear that banks should support small and medium-sized businesses during these difficult times.
"That is why we're taking unprecedented action to support firms, jobs and our economy through £330billion in business loans and guarantees, paying 80 per cent of the wages of furloughed workers for three months, VAT and tax deferrals, introducing cash grants of up to £25,000 for small companies and covering the cost of statutory sick pay.
"We're working with the financial services sector to ensure that companies feel the full benefits from this support."
