FIRMS could face major rises in business rates, an East Lancashire surveyor has warned.

Blackburn-based Singletons said industrial buildings and warehouses were highly vulnerable to large increases under the year 2000 revaluation being carried out.

"Companies should be looking at what course of action to take," said Carl Ardern, senior rating surveyor.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.