The founder of a new Dereham-based packaging firm selling 'small amounts to small people' said he is confident the venture can see its way through the current economic climate.

Trevor Cox said trading has been tough since he launched Direct Packaging Dereham, next to the Aldous furniture store in Tavern Lane, in January.

The 45-year-old set up the firm after his father asked him to take over his similar business in Chesterfield, but he decided to stay put in Dereham, where his wife Maria is head of year 11 at Neatherd High School.

He said: 'He wanted me to take over, but I have settled down here and the kids are at a good school so I thought I will give it a go here.

'It's really supplying local shops and retailers, and if you come to me you don't have to buy by the thousand. We supply small amounts for small people like local craftpeople who do fairs. They probably only want 10 to 50 of any item.

'It has been going slow. We are obviously still going out marketing and such things. I'm getting a little bit of support from local businesses but there are others who are finding it hard themselves and having to cut back even further themselves.

'It's a bit of a struggle, but if you can make a go of it in this climate you can make a go of it anywhere.'

He said he had researched who searches for packaging, and when, on the internet before launching the company, and found there was generally a steady demand throughout the year, except for a drop in August.

He said most of his business so far came from garden centres and fruit and vegetable wholesalers.

Mr Cox said he was currently working from 7am to about 6pm seven days a week, but hoped to recruit a part-time receptionist and a part-time delivery driver within about 18 months.