Hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses most affected by Omicron can apply for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises.

Applications need be made on the Dover District Council website by midday on Monday, February 14.

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme is a new one-off payment from the Government for eligible businesses whose trade has been affected by the more catching variant of coronavirus.

Sums provided depend on the rateable value of a premises, and cover the period from last December 30 onwards.

Businesses can receive a grant for each eligible property, subject to conditions. Some may receive more than one grant where they have more than one property.

Those eligible would include cinemas, theatres, hotels, B&Bs, pubs and restaurants.

Cllr Chris Vinson, DDC cabinet member for finance, said: “We know just how hard many local businesses have found this Christmas period, with cancelled bookings and uncertainty over further restrictions."

Final payments from this grant would be made by March 31.

For more information, or to apply online, visit the website dover.gov.uk/omicron