Prime Minister Gordon Brown accused the banks of irresponsible risk-taking during his visit to Kent.

While there was no mention of the R-word - Recession - he laid into the banks with venom, claiming some had carried out undisclosed lending that could not be properly supervised in a way that was consistent with a modern economy.

"As a result, and in some cases, the banks are unwilling and unable to be able to give the flow of money that is necessary for small businesses, businesses generally, households and families," he said.

Such irresponsible risk-taking could not be justified by financial institutions that were the "repository of people’s money and hopes."

Mr Brown was joined on his VIP visit to Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, by Peter Mandelson, the new Business Secretary, John Denham (Skills Secretary) and Jonathan Shaw, minister for the south east.

Lord Mandelson – celebrating his 55th birthday - said he wanted the banks, recently handed a multi-billion pound lifeline by taxpayers, to restore lending to 2007 levels but was concerned at what they were doing at branch level over debt rescheduling terms.

"They are not only making these more onerous and charging more for the financing they’re giving, they are even charging for additional administration costs for the privilege," he said.

Some 200 business and public sector chiefs from across the region listened intently to what the Government quartet had to say.

But their questions reflected unease with the financial situation and the measures taken by the Government to tackle it.

Andrew Aves, regional organiser for the Federation of Small Businesses in Kent, claimed firms were not seeing much help from the banks at grassroots. "I would have liked more meat on the bones as to how small businesses might access these funds," he said.

Simon Edridge, of Canterbury-based marketing firm Simon Edridge Associates, said: "I think we’re all being terribly polite. We’re getting to a tipping point and there are a whole group of business people that are worried about unemployment and their plans for next year."

Caroline Chambers, of the Channel Chamber of Commerce, called for cuts in tax, national insurance and red tape. She accused the PM of making platitudes. "He’s not convinced me at all," she said.

But Darryl Watts, managing director of Sittingbourne-based Oil Drum, an award-winning firm that has designed a fuel- saving product for lorries, was pleased with the PM’s performance. "I was impressed," he said. "Hats off to the guys."