UK pension schemes enjoyed their best performance in four years in 2009, marking a welcome turnaround after the financial crisis led to the biggest losses since the 1970s.

The average UK scheme reported an average weighted return of 14.4% in 2009, the best return in four years, according to research from BNY Mellon Asset Servicing. The gains came after UK schemes lost an average 13.6% in 2008.