THE Tyne Valley has been reacting to the news that Britain has entered the largest recession on record.

New figures showed that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic sent the economy plunging by 20.4 per cent between April and June this year, and the scale of the downturn came as a surprise to some.

Jonathan Walker, assistant director of policy at the North East England Chamber of Commerce said: “The scale of the downturn is shocking. It is clear that we face a difficult road ahead. There is a very real danger that this recession will hit our region particularly hard.

“We need an immediate plan from the Government to build a recovery that is based on fairness.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, feared young people would be hit hardest.

She said: “Our young people are the ones who are going to pay the price.

“Youth unemployment is set to go through the roof and this worries me. Unemployment goes hand in hand with high crime rates.”

However, one of the district’s largest employers said it was business as usual.

A spokesman for Essity in Prudhoe said: “The site continued to operate during lockdown, with none of our employees being furloughed.

“We have not really been adversely impacted by the pandemic and the resulting downturn in the economy.

"Given the essential nature of our products, it’s business as usual for us.”

But there was concern among smaller business owners.

Michael Smith, owner of Bardon Mill Village Store and Tea Room, said: “Its worrying, obviously, but it was inevitable.

“Things are fairly buoyant.

"Hospitality is benefitting at the moment from people not holidaying abroad, but that’s not going to be the case through winter.

“Eat out to Help out is a sticking plaster.

"It’s a great idea and has benefits, but it’s not going to help long term.

“For me, it’s a question of survival.”