Grants are being made available to businesses to help support them during the outbreak.

It is aimed at small businesses and those involved in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries.

Smaller businesses, with rateable values of up to £15,000, will be able to apply for grants of £10,000 while certain medium to larger firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, with rateable values of less than £51,000, will have access to grants of £25,000.

It comes after the government’s national announcement of huge financial lifelines for businesses.

A dedicated web page has been set up with an online form for businesses to apply.

Dudley Council will also soon be applying a full year of 100 per cent business rate relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses and nurseries. It has also ordered an immediate stop to bailiffs and court actions for payment defaults, while initial direct debit payments of business rates were frozen immediately and will be rescheduled for those businesses that are still required to pay.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said:

"It is important we act quickly to help businesses, many of which will be struggling under the strain of this outbreak.

"We have a dedicated team of advisers who will be contacting businesses to support them through the process and people can also apply online as well with just a few simple details.

"There are 4,000 eligible businesses across the borough and I urge them to get online and find out how we can help.”

Eligible businesses can get more information on how to claim by visiting www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-rates-grant 

For further business advice and guidance visit www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk/coronavirus-business-guidance 

For all of the latest news and information on the coronavirus visit www.dudley.gov.uk/coronavirus and sign up to our regular free email bulletins here