Rutland County Council has paid out £3.5million in support to more than 300 local businesses in just a day.

The council has started dishing out the government grants to Rutland businesses who are eligible for COVID-19 support.

The government has announced a package of financial support intended to help businesses and self-employed people who have been affected by the impact of COVID-19.

This includes funding for Local Authorities in England to support small businesses that pay little or no business rates. Full details can be found on this business support government website .

Where a local business is eligible for support and pays business rates by Direct Debit, Rutland County Council is automatically paying grants straight into their bank account.

Eligible businesses who do not pay business rates via Direct Debit need to provide the Council with information that is needed to process their grant. This information can be provided using an online form on the council website.

Councillor Gordon Brown, Cabinet Member for Revenues and Benefits at Rutland County Council, said: "It's been a huge undertaking to get everything in place so that we can begin paying out these government grants and I would like to thank businesses for their patience and understanding while we've been doing this work.

"I'm pleased to say that grants totalling well over £3million have already been paid out and that the online form where businesses can submit their details is up and running. We are still working to improve the form, to make it easier for businesses, and our team is standing by to help anyone who needs assistance."

Anyone requiring help or support to submit their details for a small business grant must email: [email protected].

Rutland County Council cannot take this information over the phone but will be responding to email enquiries over the weekend.

For more information about financial support available to Rutland businesses impacted by COVID-19, including grant funding for small businesses, please go to the council website .