BUSINESS leaders across Worcestershire want answers over what happens next - saying they are desperate to keep the county's growing economy intact.

As the dust settles on the nation's historic Brexit vote, the financial markets have gone into haywire as investors sought protection from a possible economic crisis.

The UK is now poorer than France after the pound sunk to a 30-year low, with the FTSE 100 dropping five per cent.

Amid the constantly changing City landscape business chiefs in Worcestershire have appealed for calm - including Yamazaki Mazak, which backed Remain.

Mazak, which has more than 500 workers at its European production site in Warndon, says "85 per cent" of business comes from the EU and its future strategy was based on Britain staying in.

A statement from its European group managing director Marcus Burton said the firm was "clearly disappointed".

It said: "Having supported the campaign for the UK to remain a member, Yamazaki Mazak is clearly disappointed that the result is to leave.

"It will take some time for the UK Government and EU to negotiate and implement the future relationship.

"During this period we hope any uncertainty will not adversely affect our customers' intentions to invest in machine tools.

"The key issue for our business in the UK is to keep unfettered access to the European single market without any additional tariffs or bureaucracy that would increase costs and reduce the competitiveness of our exports to Europe.

"To that end we will strongly support the Government in negotiating a positive EU trading relationship."

Elsewhere Gary Woodman, from Worcestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership, said he was concerned about growth slowing down.

"Worcestershire has had the third fastest growing economy in recent years and the latest statistics show the county has also been the third most prosperous," he said.

"We now need to fully understand the implications of leaving the EU for our local businesses, and work with partner organisations to ensure the appropriate support is in place to keep up the momentum for economic growth and the creation of jobs.

"We'll now also work with Government to understand what this means for the national EU programme, and specifically the funds allocated to the county."

Bosses at the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce told the Worcester News "one thing businesses don't like" is uncertainty.

Mike Ashton, the chief executive, said: "One thing that businesses don’t like is uncertainty - but what we now have is certainty.

"From our recent polls we know our membership was split over the debate - some businesses will be pleased with the result and others will be resigned to it.

"We now await further political clarity and communication from the Government about a clear timeline for the UK's exit, and answers to the many real questions businesses face."

Leave backer and entrepreneur Neil Westwood, who runs Magic Whiteboard in Worcester, said "common sense won the day".

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