Karl Keppler, a policeman in the hilly southern German town of Rommelsbach, has recently been running into a lot of friends while out on patrol.

The village has become more crowded in the daytime after Bosch, the car parts supplier, halted production at its local plant several weeks ago. The move came as a shock to the community, which has a population of 5,800. "The mood here is rather pessimistic. Many people here I know work for Bosch," Mr Keppler says.