SUN VALLEY is praising MP Paul Keetch for helping them through the oil crisis, writes RICHARD WILSON.

Millions of birds faced the chop last Wednesday because the poultry giant was unable to secure enough feed.

But an intervention to MAFF by Mr Keetch ensured that Sun Valley received a 'priority' delivery of fuel.

The firm is hoping to build a 60,000-litre fuel tank at its Allensmore factory to avert any future crisis.

Businesses throughout the county were beginning to return to normal this week.

The Chamber of Commerce has yet to calculate the exact impact of the week of disruption, but spokesperson Peter Morgan pointed out that 'time was money.'

All affected

"All businesses will have been affected by this in one way or another," he said.

He and the chamber welcomed the 'debate' on fuel tax rates prices but felt that blockades 'were not really the way to do things'.

"We are looking for fuel prices to be more flexible so that when the OPEC oil price goes up the tax comes down to compensate," added Peter.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many firms were badly hit during the dispute. Peter Garner of the Herefordshire Trade Federation was grateful that the problems ended when they did.

"Estate agents were reporting that people were not viewing houses, hotels were having bookings cancelled and innumerable meetings were cancelled," he said.

"The federation welcomes consultancy with government on this issue. But I think people realise that the tax has got to be paid somewhere. There's no way around it."