HALF of UK bosses based in a big industrial town or city would like to move to the countryside, new research suggests.

The study for support agency Cornwall Pure Business found that 15 per cent of such managers want to move all or part of their firm to a less urban location.

Key motivators behind urban business people wanting to move to the countrywide were: creating a better environment for their family, gaining a better work-life balance, and reducing commuting time.

The main barriers include fears over lack of access to technology, the impact on current employees, and concerns a move would hit profits.

The findings reflect a recent separate survey by the Halifax, which showed that the south west was the most popular destination for internal UK migration.