[Acrylic-bob]

I can only tell the story as I see it. In my line of business two of our competitors have gone to the wall so far this year, another one went just before Christmas. And while our business is up on last year that is more to do with a fall in the number of suppliers rather than an increase in the available business; which is expected to fall again this year.

Record numbers of hotels, guest houses and restaurants are also on the market this year as people want to bail out before the property crash takes hold.