Richard O'Connell, of Jubilee Road, Totnes, writes:

I am a manufacturer and employ 365 people most of whom are at my factory at Lee Mill Industrial Estate near Ivybridge.

Manufacturing is not easy, as there are so many variables to deal with – rising fuel and energy costs,an unstable currency and ever increasing legislation to name a few.

Products manufactured in the UK must now rate amongst the 'greenest' products in the world in view of the amount of carbon tax that a manufacturer has to pay and the health and safety criteria that are imposed on us in production.

I would therefore encourage readers to take up my 'Look at the Label' campaign.

I think many of us are concerned with how and where our food is produced but turn a blind eye to other products, clothing in particular.

In order to rebuild our economy we need to invest in purchasing products made nearer to home. My family know that when they buy me a present, it should be of European manufacture and preferably British.

There is sometimes however a difficult decision to make. Do you support local shops selling Far Eastern products or do you go on line and order a British made product?

Preferably, of course, we would like to have local shops selling European-made products.