LOTUS EATERS

Iconic car maker Lotus has been bought by the Chinese owner of Volvo.

Geely, which also makes the famous London black cabs, has snapped up a 51% stake in the Norfolk-based firm.

The deal was part of one by Geely to buy just under half of Malaysian car firm Proton.

An Easter shutdown fuelled an 18% year-on-year drop in production at UK car plants last month, said trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.