BUSINESSES rates will be suspended for some businesses across the county amid the coronavirus outbreak, Herefordshire Council has said.

A number of shops, pubs, theatres, music venues, restaurants and other business in the retail, hospitality or leisure sector will pay no business rates for 12 months.

In addition, businesses in receipt of small business rates relief and hospitality businesses will receive a grant from Government, which will be administrated by Herefordshire Council.

The council said they are currently waiting for further information and advice from central government regarding this additional support for businesses, and are ready to operate this scheme as soon as it has received the details from Government.

"Government has indicated that this will be released by the end of the week," a spokesperson said.

"We will publish the details on our website as soon as we receive them. All reliefs announced due to coronavirus (COVID-19), will be automatically applied to the businesses that we believe meet qualifying criteria, and our aim is to do this within the next few weeks."