BLEAK news for Bury manufacturing firms is that they are struggling to perform against an alarming backdrop of falling sales and orders.

That's the worrying verdict from Chamber Business Connections, the trading name of North Manchester Chamber of Commerce which represents the interests of Bury firms.

Evidence suggests that Bury businesses are not reflecting the more optimistic picture elsewhere in the country which points to a manufacturing renaissance.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a report which it says is proof of a manufacturing revival, with output up half a percentage point, following earlier falls in output during 2001 and 2002.

But in a complete contrast, manufacturers in Bury have relayed a different story with more firms reporting falling sales and orders than those reporting positive results.

David Peacock, chief executive of Chamber Business Connections, believes the ONS figures may not, in fact, reveal the true picture.

"We believe the rise in manufacturing output may represent a 'summer dividend' for certain types of manufacturers," he said.

"The temporary improvement in some areas is masking the ongoing struggle that the majority of manufacturers have been experiencing."

And he understands that buoyancy in manufacturing could be dictated on where companies are located.

Mr Peacock explained: "There appears to be major differences within manufacturing sectors and by geographical region throughout the UK, as higher consumer spending earlier in the summer benefited a relatively small percentage of manufacturers rather than indicating an overall sectoral revival.

"Feedback from our members certainly does not lend itself to talk of the start of a manufacturing revival," he concluded.