Maldon district businesses can apply for loans of up to £150,000 from a new countywide £1million loan fund to help see them through the pandemic.

The new fund has been ring-fenced for businesses in the Essex county area and opens on Sunday, 1 January.

You can apply if your business:

-is based in Essex

-has an annual turnover of up to £45million

-requires finance up to £150,000.

You need to show that your business:

-would be viable were it not for the pandemic

-has been adversely impacted by Covid.

The fund has been unlocked due to a £200,000 investment from Essex County Council (ECC) and has been created with Let's Do Business Finance, a partner in the government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

The government will guarantee 80 per cent of the finance to the lender, with fees and the first year's interest costs covered.

Councillor Tony Ball, ECC Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: "We are committed to taking any action we can to support Essex businesses during these current restrictions.

"Essex County Council has spent £74.5million to support the community during the Covid-19 restrictions this year and that is right and correct, but when we heard about the CBILS fund our officers creatively searched for any investment we could make to create a loan fund for Essex businesses.

"If your business needs support during these current restrictions I urge you to apply. We want you to keep trading and be in a good place to drive economic recovery when these restrictions end."

If you have a business which is based in Essex and needs financial support during the current Covid-19 restrictions, you can find more information and apply for CBILS on the Let's Do Business Finance website via the link here.