Plus to find itself minus two cost-saving customers

Two high-profile companies joined the exodus from Plus Markets today because of the hefty price tag attached to a listing.

One of the companies, Trevor Baylis Brands, founded by the inventor of the wind-up radio Trevor Baylis, plans to ask shareholders at its next AGM for permission to de-list.

Chairman Alan Hindley said: "We are paying around £30,000 a year to maintain our listing when we are trying to break even and our directors are taking no fee. It is a question of liquidity We are not ruling out re-listing in the future."

The firm, which was established to help Britain's bright minds bring their inventions to market, estimates that they will save £20,000 a year.

Shares in the second company, Angela Flowers Gallery, one of the longest-established contemporary art businesses in London, with galleries in Mayfair and Shoreditch will be withdrawn from trading next month because of the "onerous burden" of maintaining a Plus listing.