Small firms hit by big freeze

THE big freeze has left small and medium businesses in Scotland facing losses of more than £716 million, new research showed today.

More than two-thirds of such firms were affected by the wintry conditions, according to the Bank of Scotland Commercial study.

A total of 35 per cent saw premises cut off or closed, while about four in ten suffered indirectly due to disrupted supply channels or obstructed delivery routes.

More than a quarter were forced to close down for at least a day, while one in six had to halt business for at least five days.

Experts said the extreme weather came at a particularly bad time for firms as they struggled to survive in the economic downturn.