THE MP for Eddisbury, Edward Timpson, has welcomed a financial boost to local services for local services.

Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East councils have received an extra £5.4 million from the government to help pay for their response to coronavirus, as part of a £500 million package of additional support.

In total, since the pandemic began, the two councils will have now received an additional £44 million.

This additional support forms part of a comprehensive package of government support to help councils respond to the pandemic, including an unprecedented new scheme to help councils recover lost income, including from car parks and museums that have been shut during the lockdown.

In addition, the Government has announced a co-payment scheme that will compensate councils for irrecoverable income losses from sales, fees and charges.

Edward Timpson MP thanked the staff at the two councils for their work over the last few months.

"The staff at Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester Councils have played a sterling role in coordinating the local response to coronavirus," he said, "I'm sure everyone in our community will join me in thanking them for everything they've done under extraordinary circumstances.

"The government said at the beginning of this crisis that they would stand behind our councils, and I'm delighted that they have done, protecting local services and ensuring local authorities come through this difficult period with stable finances.

"This additional £5.4 million shows they've continued to listen to local concerns and will protect the local services in Eddisbury on which we all rely."