Tenby's Pink Cat shop Julius Rhys Davies discussed the recession with David Cameron when the Conservative leader visited the area on Monday.

Mr. Cameron was in the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency as part of a round Britain tour to learn more about how the credit crunch is hitting small businesses.

"Nine shops have gone out of business in Tenby this winter and we have all been crippled by this recession," said Mr. Rhys Davies. 

"It was useful to be able to discuss the problems facing businesses like our own and what the best way out of the recession would be."

Also at the meeting was Pembroke estate agent and builder Guy Thomas, who said: "It was an excellent opportunity to meet David Cameron and to explain the challenges facing us today and what we need the Government to do to help us overcome them."

Mr. Cameron spent an hour in Carmarthen taking part in a round-table discussion with 15 local businessmen and women before walking around the town and visiting a butcher and baker in King Street.

He said: "I am here to support Simon Hart, our candidate at the next general election, and I wanted to hear direct from local business people about what's happening in the economy, how the Government can help, how we get the banks lending again, how we get credit moving again and to hear about the local concerns."

Whitland honey producer Keith Taylor, who attended the meeting, was delighted to hear of the Conservatives pledge to change food labelling rules so that only food completely produced in Britain can be described as British.

"I think it's diabolical that British farmers have to jump through hoops when it's not a level playing field," he said. "I welcome anything that makes things fairer."