THURROCK Council will receive more than £155,000 from the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund.

The fund is intended to help public spaces be revived, businesses restart and people to safely return to jobs as the coronavirus pandemic eases.

Thurrock Council leader Rob Gledhill said: “The government has done everything possible to keep residents safe and support business through this terrible pandemic. So far, Thurrock businesses have benefited from nearly £60million of business rates relief and government has allocated over £23m in grants to help small businesses and those in the entertainment industry.

“To hear that we will receive just over £155,000 extra grant to help our high streets open up and operate safely is really good news.

“We will be engaging with those who operate on our high streets to see how this money can be best spent.”