A report by Begbies Traynor found firms in critical financial distress rose by more than a fifth to 49,309 in the second quarter.

The prosecution made its closing speech in the trial of Colin Kirby-Green who is accused of death by dangerous driving at Waitrose, Colchester.

Meat giant Cranswick has said an independent review into its animal welfare policies and procedures is “well advanced” following abuse claims at a pig farm run by the business earlier this year. The ...