Business owners in Worcester have welcomed news that those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will receive up to £9,000 in one-off grants to help them through the third nationwide lockdown.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed that those in the specified sectors will receive up to £9,000 per property.

Anthony Glackin, who owns Box Fitness Limited in Worcester, said: “I think it will be a great help.

“At the moment, we’re not making a turnover so if the Government didn’t provide anything it would have been a massive hardship.

“With that support I will be opening back up, and for me it’s a blessing and it will help keep us going.”

Claire Bishop, the owner of Cornucopia gift shop in Worcester, said: “The grant would be much appreciated for the fact that we still have rent to pay, and we still have outgoings.

“We have been lucky in the respect that some places in tier four haven’t had the opportunity to reopen up so I feel that we have been fortunate in that respect, but the £9,000 will be very very welcome to help us refresh to keep going.”

Following the chancellor’s announcement, Sharon Smith, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “While this extra and sector specific support is welcomed in the short-term, firms need to see support beyond April and see a more long-term support package.

“The government’s focus should be more longer-term, providing a comprehensive support package for businesses that will not simply see them through until spring but will provide the assurance they need to continue to operate, injecting confidence that businesses need in order to contribute to the recovery effort.”