Aston Martin the luxury sports car maker whose spiritual home is in Newport Pagnell, looks to be having a hard time of it again.

Reports in late November said profits were down the best part of 10% due mostly to a fall in demand from China.

It is the company's second profits warning in 2024 and its shares have virtually halved since the year started.

About 20% of Aston cars are sold in the Asia-Pacific region and the brand got an uplift after local author Richard Meredith became the first to drive the new Asian Highway from Tokyo to London (Driven Together, Mercury Books £19.99) in a V8 Vantage.

There has been better news on the racetrack however with F1 design guru Adrian Newey joining the Aston Team in the autumn and Lance Stroll - son of Team owner Lawrence - registering a podium finish at Monza in his first season.

Geely, China's largest privately-owned car-maker, owns about 17% of the stock.