THE crisis has revealed a willingness to cope and a shared understanding between firms and their suppliers, according to businessman Peter Earp.

Mr Earp, managing director of English Braids, said the firm had not suffered "that dramatically", although it was concerned about numbers at the Southampton Boat Show, at which it is exhibiting.

"It's actually helped us pull together with our customers and suppliers," he said. "We are all sympathetic to the problems."

Mark Glossop, coordinator of the Enigma Park Business Partnership in Malvern, said: "Looking round the park, I would say that quite a few have been hit, especially ones that depend on frequent deliveries.

"One place I visited, they were all painting the machinery. Most places have slowed down but nowhere has come to a complete stop.

Charles Morgan said the crisis had not affected Morgan Motors at all. He said: "We had a delivery of fuel just before it all began, so we were lucky. It has not affected us a jot, and we are all busy here."