BUSINESSES hit by the Christmas lockdown will get financial support, the Welsh Government has announced.

Hospitality, non-essential retail, tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses will be eligible for the assistance.

Ceredigion council said today (Wednesday): "The hospitality and non-essential retail businesses in Ceredigion who received the Firebreak Lockdown Business Grant from the council will receive their Christmas Restrictions Business Fund Grant payment direct into their bank account. These businesses are not required to re-apply and do not need to do anything further.

"We are pleased to announce that to date in December, £1.8m of these direct payments have been made to 534 businesses in the hospitality sector in Ceredigion.

"Further payments will be made to other businesses in that sector as well as to the non-essential retail businesses, tourism, leisure and supply chain businesses of Ceredigion. These payments will start to reach businesses in January.

"All other eligible businesses in the hospitality, non-essential retail, tourism and leisure sector, including the supply chain sectors in Ceredigion that did not apply for the Firebreak Lockdown Business Grant, will need to apply and complete a short online application form. This application process will open in early January."

Further details on the scheme criteria and application guidance is on the council website: www.ceredigion.gov.uk/business/covid-19-supporting-ceredigion-s-economy/restrictions-business-fund/