CAR and commercial vehicle (CV) production fell sharply again last month.

The number of cars made in the UK totalled 61,829 in March, a drop of 51.3 per cent on the March 2008 figure, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said. CV production totalled 8,074 last month, 57.1 per cent down on the March 2008 figure. The March 2009 statistics mean car production for the first three months of this year was down 56.6 per cent compared with the January to March 2008 period. CV production has fallen 63 per cent.

BAY TRADING: About 1,000 jobs were at risk yesterday after the owner of a fashion chain said it would place the business into administration.

Bay Trading has stores in Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and the MetroCentre. Parent group Alexon has applied to appoint Deloitte as administrators at the 268- strong chain after insurers withdrew crucial trade credit cover following news of Bay Trading’s difficulties earlier this week. Administrators, set to be appointed today, hope to continue trading Bay Trading until a buyer can be found.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY: Sembcorp UK Protection Group is holding a breakfast seminar on business continuity and the BS 25999- 2: 2007 management specification for directors and managers. The event is being held on Wednesday, May 20, at the Wynyard Rooms, in Wynyard, Teesside. Call Margaret Walker on 01642-212102 or margaret.walker@ sembcorp.com FOOD FORUM: Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Lord Young will address a food and drink productivity forum organised by the Yorkbased National Skills Academy (NSA) for Food and Drink Manufacturing, at Middlethorpe Hall, on Thursday. NSA details are available at foodanddrink.

nsacademy.co.uk/ CONFIDENCE HIGH: Bus and train operator Go-Ahead Group has said it is confident of hitting full-year profit targets despite a slowdown in rail revenues.

Passenger revenues at the Newcastle-based company’s three rail franchises continued to rise in its thirdquarter, but at a slower rate than in the past six months.

CARE HOME: A £5m care home is being built after the developers secured funding from The Royal Bank of Scotland. Rosewood Care LLP is behind the 75-bed development in Kyle Road, Bensham, Gateshead, which will create 80 jobs. It is being built by Dorin Construction Ltd and designed by Mario Minchella Architects.