Pension scheme deficits wiped out

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Britain's leading companies have wiped out the multi-billion pound deficit in their pension schemes, according to accountancy firm Deloitte.

The country's top 100 share index companies' pensions now have a combined surplus of Â£15bn, the firm said.

Two years ago the collective black hole in the pension schemes of the top 100 firms was an estimated Â£75bn.

But analysts urged caution, saying a bad run on the stock market could turn the surplus back into a deficit.

The deep deficit of two years ago spurred firms to take action to safeguard their pension schemes.

Their newly robust health is a result of injections of cash, restructuring the schemes and a strong stock market.