BRADFORD Council has expanded the Additional Restrictions Grant to include local business which traded during lockdown.

Up to £3,000 will be paid to qualifying businesses that remained open throughout the pandemic but suffered losses and were unable to claim other government grants.

Eligible businesses include essential retailers which were not required to close and non-rate paying businesses with commercial premises excluded from previous grant support.

To qualify, firms must be able to show at least a 30 per cent reduction in trading income and be based in the Bradford district.

It is part of a wider support package for businesses from the Council, which has so far totalled over £222 million since the first lockdown in 2020.

More details are available on the Bradford Council website. Applications close on 20 December.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We have worked extremely hard to support people through the pandemic, and our business support has been an important element of this.

"We understand this has been an incredibly difficult time for businesses and will continue to do everything we can to help local firms to survive and thrive.”