Black Country Chamber has set up a free online forum for businesses hit by the collapse of MG Rover.

The forum, which goes live today , is designed to offer businesses and individuals the chance to share experiences, seek advice and offer help to fellow businesses.

Chamber chief executive Ian Brough said: "There is obviously a huge amount of work going on to help companies through the fall-out of the Rover crash. This forum offers anyone affected the chance to get fast answers to any questions they may have about the situation.

"Fresh initiatives are being launched almost every day, covering areas like insolvency support and incentives for companies employing ex-MG Rover workers, so this real-time forum will help businesses keep up to speed."

The forum can be accessed via the chamber's Rover page - www.bccbl.com/rover - which contains a wide range of advice and contact details for companies affected by the MG Rover collapse.

Experts from George Green Solicitors and accountants and business advisers Mazars and Horwath Clark Whitehill will be online to answer queries, along with advisers from Black Country Business Link. Registration is free.

In addition, the chamber is planning a free seminar this Friday for supply chain companies at the Moat House Hotel, West Bromwich at 7.30am. Details are available on 0845 113 1234.

The chamber's Business Link advisers have now contacted more than 1,000 companies in the area and are directly involved with around 90, helping with wage support packages, business planning and skills issues.

Twenty-one of those companies have received wage replacement packages worth a total of £235,025.