The Body Shop was one of the success stories in business during the Eighties and Nineties following its humble beginnings in Brighton.

Founder Anita Roddick managed to combine business acumen with a green outlook which appealed to millions of customers concerned about the environment.

The company also acquired a good reputation for dealing with its staff and for conducting tours around its headquarters in Littlehampton.

But now more than 50 staff at Littlehampton have been made redundant and the Body Shop tours have stopped.

This follows the loss of 300 jobs last year when the Body Shop's cosmetics factory closed, although 150 found other jobs within the company.

This downturn in activity has coincided with Anita Roddick's decision to step down as co-chairwoman of the company.

It's possible she saw a downturn in business approaching and decided to get out at the right time.

Mrs Roddick had a brilliant idea 26 years ago when she started her first small shop in Brighton and she sustained it to make the firm a national success story.

But the winning formula has been imitated successfully by big High Street names such as Boots, who are mighty competitors.

Body Shop staff are now getting the first signs that things are likely to get a lot tougher in the future.