Businesses in the Harrogate district will get a share of a new £40 million support package to help them stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Any business eligible for small business rate relief or rural relief will get a £10,000 grant while hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000 will get a £25,000 grant.

Those hospitality and leisure businesses, regardless of rateable value, will not need to pay any business rates during the 2020/2021 financial year.

It comes as Harrogate Borough Council announces that its commercial tenants will be able to get three months rent free.

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said: “We know businesses are struggling.

"As soon as it hits our bank account we will be getting it into the bank accounts of local businesses.

“We have also been lobbying government on behalf of freelancers and the self-employed who make up a significant part of our local workforce. We are expecting announcements on this over the coming days.

“But we want to go further. So we will be offering nearly all our commercial tenants three months’ rent-free.

"This includes some shops on our high streets, Harrogate Theatre and other offices and business premises around the district."

More information on these initiatives will be available on the Harrogate Borough Council website.