Liverpool City Region has secured an additional £30 million in COVID-19 business support from the Government.

It comes in addition to the £14 million already received to support the local Test, Trace and Isolate system and local enforcement efforts, to make a total of £44 million in additional funding secured in support of the Tier 3 restrictions.

The City Region also received £7m when it went in to Tier 2 status, meaning a total package of £51m so far.

The funding comes after the City Region was the first to be placed on the Tier 3 ‘very high’ Covid alert level restrictions, leading to closures of hospitality and leisure business and impacting many that remain open.

Speaking on behalf of Sefton Council leader Cllr Ian Maher, the City Mayor and Leaders of the other five city region Local Authorities including Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Once it became clear that Tier 3 restrictions were going to be imposed on our City Region, we held a series of meetings with the Government, throughout last weekend, with the aim of protecting our NHS and supporting local people and businesses.

“We have been absolutely clear since we were put in to Tier 3 that we would continue to press the Government and hold meaningful dialogue to secure vitally needed extra economic support.

“The result of this is that, today, we have obtained from the Government, an additional £30million in funding.

“This is welcome news for our economy and the thousands of people whose businesses and jobs will now be supported through this very difficult period.”