TRADERS in East Lancashire are pessimistic about 2010 despite Britain pulling out of recession.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced earlier this week that the country’s economy grew by 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2008.

But despite the minute growth, business bosses in East Lancashire remain downbeat.

Samlesbury farmer Eddie Cowpe, who also owns Huntley’s Farm Shop in the village, said the 18 month-long recession had hit farmers hard.

He said: “We are the forgotten ones and we have really suffered through the downturn.

“Arable farmers are in for a caning this year, the dairy sector has been squeezed by shops but we have not had any help from politicians.

“I don’t think things will get any better, either. Farmers are losing people and as interest rates go up, people will spend less too.”

The message was equally bleak from Nicholas Emery, a Nelson trader and chairman of the town centre partnership.

He said affluent towns, such as Whalley and Barrowford, had weathered the recessionary storm well.

But he added: “The recession has been terrible. Nelson is completely dead.

“We have yet to fill the old Woolworths unit and Pendle Rise shopping centre is less than half full.

“Although places like Whalley and Barrowford have done well, towns without money have been very badly hit and I don’t expect things to get any better.”

Although manufacturers were hammered in the recession, many East Lancashire businesses, such as aerospace firms, were helped by bulging order books which pre-dated the downturn.

However, the Manufacturing Advisory Service North West (MASNW), which helps the sector, said today that Lancashire manufacturers were “still feeling the hangover”.

MASNW boss Paul Fewtrell said companies should begin to shift their focus from survival to growth during 2010.

He said: “As businesses start the long road to recovery, maintaining cashflow is critical.

"Money that is often tied up in excess stock and slow production can be released within a few weeks, generating significant cash benefit.

“Businesses must now also look forward and address how they can perform better in the long term by looking at opportunities to focus on sustainable activities that lead to stability and growth.”

Yesterday, Colne businessman David Fishwick described the ONS’s announcement as “the most underwhelming end to a recession ever."