The government must act to end the 'shambolic delay' small firms have endured to get help with their business rates.

This is the view of a lobbying organisation as many local authorities have yet to distribute the relief funds made available for smaller firms in March's Budget.

The Federation of Small Businesses is calling for communities secretary Sajid Javid to provide a letter of direction to local councils in England to speed up the hand-out of financial help for firms facing 'unacceptable increases' in their business rates.

Four months after the £300m discretionary relief fund was announced, some local authorities have failed to design their distribution systems, let alone pass on payments, the FSB said.

In a direct letter the business group urged the government to 'get a grip on the situation'.

According to data from business rates specialists CVS, Norfolk is set to receive just under £4.5m and Suffolk will get £3.2m from the fund, which can be used to help the businesses hit hardest by this year's business rates revaluation. Essex will receive a further £1.5m.

Among councils expected to gain the most in the east are North Norfolk (£900,000), King's Lynn and West Norfolk (£700,000) and Suffolk Costal (£700,000).

Salena Dawson, FSB East Anglia regional chair, said it was likely many councils would not have distribution schemes in place until August or September.

'Many small businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk are still waiting for support from the promised hardship fund to materialise,' she said.

'This shambolic delay means some of our region's small businesses are being left with no choice but to delay investment, avoid taking on staff or even close their doors, while they are waiting for this assistance.

'The government needs to take control of the situation and instruct local councils to get on with the job so that the relief can reach those struggling businesses most in need.'

This newspaper has spoken to small firms who are having to foot their full bills – some of which rose sharply in the revaluation – while they await relief.

The delay in relief hand-outs has coincided with the rise of so-called 'rates relief specialists', who often ape statutory bodies, which North Norfolk District Council has warned its businesses against getting involved with.