Tale of two recoveries: business rallies in Windermere but slows in Crawley

High numbers of workers furloughed in both towns but tourists drive Lakes boom, while airline-dependent centre struggles

If there was a corner of the UK that felt the sharp impact of recession first, it was the tourist honeypot of Windermere. Visitors disappeared overnight, just as shops and bars were readying for the booming spring and summer months.

Nearly 19,000 workers in the area were furloughed - 40% of the eligible workforce - earning South Lakeland the unwanted title of furlough capital of the UK". The neighbouring area of Eden had the country's second highest furlough rate, with 39% of the workforce placed on the government scheme that covers 80% of a temporarily laid off employee's wages.