By Vicky Houchin

AGRICULTURAL ancillary companies and food groups were among those hit this morning as shares plunged on the London stock exchange.

The FTSE all-share index slumped more than 155 points (3%) to 5089 within 25 minutes of the stock market opening on growing fears of a worldwide recession.

Shares in Northern Foods lost 4.23% to 170.00p. Other significant drops included Zeneca, which lost 3.77% to 2247.00p. Robert Wiseman Dairies was down 3.39% to 185.00p.

Shares Trade Price +/-(pence) +/-(%)
Robert Wiseman 9.58 185.00 -6.50 -3.39
ICI 10.18 641.00 -12.00 -1.84
The Albert Fisher Group 10.09 12.25 -0.25 -2.04
Associated British Foods 10.27 505.50 -9.50 -1.84
Avonmore Waterford 9.57 202.50 -7.50 -3.57
Dairy Crest Group 9.59 275.00 -1.50 -0.54
Express Dairies plc 10.21 128.50 -4.00 -3.02
Geest 10.21 400.00 -12.50 -3.03
Hazelwood Foods plc 10.19 170.50 -4.50 -2.57
Kerry Group 10.06 667.50 -22.50 -3.26
Northern Foods plc 10.32 170.00 -7.50 -4.23
Unigate plc 10.27 489.00 -8.50 -1.71
Proteus International plc 10.06 32.50 -1.50 -4.41
Zeneca Group plc 10.43 2247.00 -88.00 -3.77