North West Leicestershire District Council has been handed £93,218 as part of the Government's Welcome Back Fund.

This is the region's share of a £56million allocation across the country.

The Government says the Welcome Back Fund builds on the £50million Reopening High Streets Safely Fund announced in May last year.

That funded local schemes to encourage communities to shop safely and locally.

Measures to support a safe and successful reopening of the high streets ahead of the summer were announced last week by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.

The Welcome Back Fund is designed to help boost the look and feel of high streets as lockdown measures are gradually eased.

The Government says the Welcome Back Fund will help councils boost tourism, improve green spaces and provide more outdoor seating areas, markets and food stall pop-ups – giving people more safer options to reunite with friends and relatives.

The funding can also be used by councils to:

• Boost the look and feel of their high streets by investing in street planting, parks, green spaces and seating areas to make high streets as beautiful and welcoming as possible

• Run publicity campaigns and prepare to hold events like street markets and festivals to support local businesses

• Install signage and floor markings to encourage social distancing and safety

• Improve high streets and town centres by planting flowers or removing graffiti

Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: "As we move to the next stage on the roadmap out of lockdown we are all looking forward to being reunited with friends and family outdoors and making a safe and happy return to our favourite shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

"Our Welcome Back Fund gives every city, town and high street support to prepare for a great summer.

"This funding will help councils and businesses to welcome shoppers, diners and tourists back safely.

"As soon as the roadmap allows, we need to get behind our local businesses and enjoy all that this country has to offer and that we've been missing so much.

"I'm allowing every pub in the country to erect a marquee in their garden for the whole summer as a one-off power to support our locals.

"To make sure that businesses can make the most of the summer, businesses such as pubs and restaurants, including where these premises are in listed buildings, will be allowed to use their land more flexibly to set up marquees and provide more outdoor space for diners as restrictions ease, allowing them to serve more customers and recover from the effects of the pandemic.

"They can be kept up for the whole summer rather than the 28 days currently permitted."

The Government adds that it has published its response to the Parking Code Framework which will curb unfair tickets and tackle cowboy parking firms through a new, simplified appeals process.

Caps on private parking fines for millions of motorists are also set to be introduced.

This will give drivers more confidence in heading into town knowing they will not be unfairly penalised by rogue operators.