WYRE Forest Council is contacting businesses eligible for financial support as coronavirus turns the district's high streets into ghost towns.

The majority of businesses have closed until further notice after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that all businesses classed as "non-essential" must close for at least three weeks, with the exception of certain trades including takeaways, supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices and banks. See the full list here.

Wyre Forest District Council is now reaching out to local businesses that may be eligible for financial support.

The chancellor has announced that small businesses that receive Small Business Rate Relief are eligible for a grant of £10,000.

A further grant of up to £25,000 will be available for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value for business rates purposes of between £15,000 and £51,000.

It is not expected the Government will give councils the funding until early April.

Once the funding has been released, it will be distributed to all eligible businesses in the district.

For more information on the financial support available for businesses, visit wyreforestdc.gov.uk/smallbusinesssupport.