Businesses around Portsmouth area urged to apply for grants as it is revealed £30m has been paid out in city so far

The small business grant and the retail, hospitality and leisure grant were set up by government to be paid through local councils in order to keep businesses afloat amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Since the announcement of the grants in March about 74 per cent of eligible businesses in Portsmouth have applied for one of the grants, which range from £10,000 to £25,000.

Deputy council leader, Councillor Steve Pitt, urged more businesses to apply for the payments. 'I think within Hampshire we've almost paid out the most so far, which is really good,' he said.

'It's our responsibility to get this money out to the businesses. Our team has been working really hard, working weekends to make sure we could get the money out as soon as it was ready to go.

'We're still actively contacting businesses to ask them to apply because the government wants all the money to be given out soon. I would ask business owners to remind each other to do this.'

For Andrew Pearce, one of the owners of Creatiques Bridal Boutique in Albert Road, Southsea, the cash was a welcome lifeline.

The 53-year-old said: 'It's there to help you. These times are so unusual that we need to make the most of the support that's there.

'We are all in the same boat and we don't know how much longer this is going on for.

'There was so much confusion to begin with when we went into lockdown and I think at first there was some confusion in the community about whether it was a loan or a grant, but now we know it is a grant and not something we have to pay back people should apply.'

As of 24 April, Fareham Borough Council reported to paying out more than £8.9m in the grants with 1,660 businesses applying.

Gosport council also revealed it had paid out £9m, to just over 60 per cent of eligible businesses.

And as of April 19 Havant Borough Council had paid just over £3m - to 17.5 per cent of eligible businesses.

Eligible businesses can apply via their council's website.