BURY businesses have been touched both on a personal and commercial level following the terrorism acts in America.

That's the message from Mr Andrew Ratcliff, chief executive of business support agency, Bolton and Bury Chamber.

He said the tragedy had also created "a great deal of uncertainty, gloom and pessimism."

Mr Ratcliff added: "The travel business and its supply chain has been the first to feel the immediate effects and many more businesses are playing a waiting game to see how the global economy shakes out and how retaliatory action may affect oil prices and supply.

"This is a difficult period of wait and see for local business."

He went on: "But global recession is by no means an eventuality and, in the event of an economic downturn, local firms are very resourceful and resilient and plenty have experience of managing through tough times."