STOCK WATCH

■ THE boss of Alliance Pharma is to step down temporarily for personal reasons.

Peter Butterfield, who became chief executive in 2018, will be replaced by finance boss Andrew Franklin before returning in January.

The healthcare group, whose products range from lotions and mouthwash to tablets, suffered a further blow after several orders expected in the final three months of the year fell through.

Shares plunged 42pc, or 25.6p, to 35.3p.