Open house at Crystal Mortgages

The event, which will be held from 10am to 3pm at the company's offices at 66 Lysways Street, Walsall, includes a free consultation service during which local firms can discuss their financial situation and requirements with specialist underwriters.

Roger Dewsbery, senior underwriter at Crystal Commercial Funding, said: "Conditions have changed substantially during the last twelve months, and the result is that businesses are not aware of what finance options are available to them.

"We feel that by offering this open day, companies will see that there may be light at the end of the tunnel and just because their normal lending sources may have dried up, there are more avenues open to them."