CHESTER MP Chris Matheson has thrown his support behind the city's business community as it pleads for extra financial support from the Government.

Coronavirus restrictions in neighbouring counties have prohibited people from Flintshire, Wrexham and the Liverpool City Region – which includes Wirral and Halton – from travelling to west Cheshire for anything other than essential needs.

That has led to a dramatic drop in the number of shoppers heading into Chester city centre.

Latest figures on Cheshire West and Chester Council's coronavirus dashboard say the number of visitors in Chester city centre have fallen by more than a quarter in just the past three weeks, and are about 40 per cent down on visitor numbers from previous years.

As a result, the city's business community says hundreds of city businesses are now "at the point of collapse", without support to keep them trading.

A letter sent by Chester BID manager Carl Critchlow, on behalf of Chester city businesses, was sent to City of Chester MP Chris Matheson, calling on the Labour politician to plea for extra support from the Government.

Now Mr Matheson – who is currently self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus – has responded.

He said: "In Chester we are lucky to have a group of organisations working hand in hand to keep our city going, but they cannot do this without more resources.

"In his letter to me, Carl correctly identifies the unique situation Chester finds itself in. A city in a tier 2 borough, sandwiched between a tier 3 devolved city region and a country in a national lockdown.

"For Chester, these new measures brought restrictions but without resources. This is not what the cross-party, multi-agency outbreak management board asked for.

"Additionally, since stronger restrictions came into force outside of our area, we have seen declining visitor numbers which has added to a loss in trade for city businesses.

"The leader of the council will be writing to the Prime Minister.

"I am intending to raise this with the Health Secretary in Parliament and I will also be writing to the Chancellor to address these points on behalf of the Chester business community.

"In the meantime, my message to residents is to take care, and support our city's economy at every opportunity you get."