Andrew Manning Cox, chairman of Hereford Enterprise Zone, says in his regular column for the Hereford Times that the local business economy is strong, and will weather the storm

These are unprecedented times.

It is hard to think of anything in modern peacetime which has had such a swift, widespread and devastating impact on business, and society as a whole, as the coronavirus.

Coming so soon after the floods which affected large swathes of Herefordshire and our exit from the EU, it feels as if we are being tested in a way we have never been tested before.

As a business community I know that we will do everything in our power to help our staff, customers and clients cope with the coming months.

Already, many businesses on the Enterprise Zone here at Skylon Park have responded to the crisis by allowing staff to work from home where this is possible, cutting out any unnecessary travel and using modern technology to hold virtual meetings.

There will be much more to do as the situation develops, but I sense a spirit across our businesses to roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to support each other, their staff and the wider community in getting through this.

But that is no surprise.

If we know anything about our business community in Herefordshire it is that it has deep reserves of resilience and the strength to weather any storm. Time after time it has risen to whatever challenges have been thrown at it and never been found wanting.

I am confident that this will also prove to be the case with coronavirus and that better, brighter days lie ahead.

In the meantime, may I wish each and every one of you good health.