BUSINESSES hard hit by the pandemic can get up to £10,000 support from Cheshire East Council.

The authority's Business Interruption Fund is still open for applications and those companies who previously applied can ask for help again.

The fund is for businesses that can demonstrate they are continuing to be impacted by the pandemic.

The council has increased the amount of support available through the fund to a maximum of £10,000 per business and extended the deadline to apply up to February 28, 2022.

Previously the maximum amount that could be claimed was set at £5,000.

There is further support available too for the hospitality and leisure sector because of the impact of any Covid restrictions imposed because of the Omicron variant.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has introduced a new one-off grant of up to £6,000 per premises, while pledging a top-up for the Additional Restrictions Grant allocation to local authorities.

The borough council is currently waiting for detailed guidance from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy before making any amendments to its grant policy,

The current grants policy and package of support for businesses can be found on the council's business support webpage here.

Business rates customers can also find support on the council's help for business rates customers webpage.