REVENUE and Customs bosses are urging Keighley business owners to be ready for a no-deal Brexit.

HMRC is issuing advice to ensure firms can continue to trade with the European Union if a deal isn't struck.

It says the first step for businesses is to register for an Economic Operator and Registration Identification (EORI) number.

Companies that have only ever traded within the EU will not currently have one.

But should there be a no-deal scenario, businesses will be unable to continue trading with the EU unless they hold an EORI number.

Figures show that so far, just 17 per cent of businesses which would be affected have registered.

"Registration is free and takes less than ten minutes," said Mel Stride, financial secretary to the treasury.

"Step-by-step advice can be accessed via gov.uk.

"We want businesses in the region to be able to continue trading with minimal disruption in any scenario, but we also know that people tend to leave things until the last minute.

"We're specifically advising businesses to take some simple steps now to be prepared."

After obtaining an EORI number, firms are advised to consider how they want to make customs declarations.

HMRC says most choose to appoint a customs agent.

Businesses that import goods from the EU using roll-on roll-off locations can also register for new Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP)

These enable firms to import without having to make a full customs declaration at the border, and postpone paying any import duties.

HMRC has written to 145,000 VAT-registered businesses that only trade with the EU, urging them to make preparations.

However, it estimates there are around 95,000 non-VAT-registered firms which also need to act.