OVER 100 local businesses met with regional leaders and Blackburn MP Jack Straw to discuss how the credit crunch is affecting their firms.

Bosses at companies from across East Lancashire got together at Blackburn Town Hall to share concerns and ideas.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's chief executive Graham Burgess also joined the meeting on the current economic crisis.

Subjects that were raised included the late payment by larger companies and higher energy prices.

Mr Straw said: “There was a high level of frustration that the large taxpayer support of the banks is not feeding down to the people on the ground.

“There were also proposals about how government procurement could be more geared towards local business and a call for a longer term for people to pay tax, as happened during the foot and mouth crisis.

“It was a very useful meeting and I have come away with pages of no-tes which I am going to follow up with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary.

"And it was good to see so many local businesses here and we are going to carry this on with another meeting in a few months’ time.”

Mr Burgess said: “It is very encouraging to see so many local businesses pulling together to talk about the issues that are affecting them and what measures could be put in place to help them.

“Jack Straw has listened to their concerns and promised to take them up with the government and I also plan to have a further meeting with local business people to get their feedback on how we can help them.”

Council leader Coun Colin Rigby said: “I was delighted to see so many people from both large and small local businesses.

“Instead of just listening to City bankers, Jack Straw has got the feedback from the people on the ground who are in business and understand the reality of the economic situation.”