FIGURES released by major west Wiltshire employers Airsprung and Avon Rubber reveal both firms have been hit by difficult trading conditions this year.

Unaudited figures for Airsprung Furniture Group for the six months to September 30 show the group made a loss before tax of £2,158,000.

The company's board said in September that trading had been hit by a decrease in customer demand and the onset of severe price competition, mainly due to imported pine furniture.

Chairman Philip Bradshaw said: "Whilst we are taking the necessary actions to improve the group's performance, trading conditions remain difficult."

He said the firm's new exhibition centre in Trowbridge had proved to be an excellent investment for the sales force, and the firm has designed new products which will be launched at the NEC Furniture Show in January.

Preliminary results issued by Avon Rubber for the year ending September 30 show its operating profit was down £6.5m on last year, at £15.4m.

Sales for Technical Products were down 13.9 per cent, some of which was put down to the sale of its Fabrications business in September 1999.

The company said the last year has been difficult and challenging for the group but investment projects in the UK had been completed successfully.