Self-employed people say they have been dealt a bad hand by the government amid the coronavirus crisis, with those rendered unable to work offered benefits of just £94 per week.

By contrast, employees who can't work because of the need to self-isolate will be paid 80 per cent of their normal wages, up to £2,500 a month.

But what does that mean for households where both earners are self-employed?

Tessa Clemson and her partner Lucas Everett are in that precise position, having to cope with the reality of earning just £188 a week to cover their bills, and all with a new baby to look after.

Miss Clemson, from Rishton, runs her own yoga studio in Great Harwood, Tessa Clemson Yoga, while Mr Everett runs Canterbury Fireplaces in Blackburn.

Both businesses have had to close.

Miss Clemson said: "On top of the Covid-19 crisis we've just welcomed our beautiful baby girl Frances into the world, and at a time that should be full of happiness with family and friends, we have so far been filled with uncertainty and insecurity.

"I opened Tessa Clemson Yoga almost a year ago, offering a variety of yoga classes, from pregnancy and mummy and baby, to beginners classes, over 60s, and family yoga.

"April was supposed to be a time of celebration, not only due to the arrival of Frances but we were getting ready to celebrate being open 12 months and the expansion of the studio, which had recently taken on six new teachers."

Miss Clemson, 30, made the heartbreaking decision to close her studio last week, as class sizes meant the social distancing rules outlined by the government could not be adhered to.

But with the announcement that all non-essential stores had to close too, Mr Everett, 31, was also forced to close his business.

Miss Clemson continued: "We now have a new baby and are in a position where we don’t know what the future will hold or how the coming months will play out.

"As I'm a sole trader I can't receive any of the grants or loans available, the universal credit offered to self-employed earners wouldn’t cover the rent of the studio, never mind my mortgage and bills at home.

"We're trying to keep up-to-date with government information on what's available to people like us but it's going to be really hard."

As soon as the closure of her studio was announced, Miss Clemson was inundated with messages of support via social media.

People offered to buy merchandise such as T-shirts and hoodies, and many were asking for online classes, saying they would support the studio in any way they could.

The mum-of-one continued: "Over the past week I've been keeping people updated via social media.

"I appeared on BBC North West Tonight to promote my online pregnancy yoga classes, which I'm doing for free to support the group of mums who were attending classes before I gave birth.

"They're all self-isolating and the support network we have for each other is invaluable, we keep in touch via WhatsApp and the online classes using Zoom.

"Over the next few weeks I plan to create as much online content as possible.

"It’s really important for me to contribute to helping people feel positive and give them something to focus their energy on, whilst also contributing towards their physical health.

"Lucas has been working extremely hard to contact customers too to reschedule installations, services and maintenance work.

"We would like to reassure our customers that we're feeling positive, and that both Tessa Clemson Yoga and Canterbury Fireplaces will come back stronger than ever.

"We believe that the majority of people are inherently good and want to do their bit for the local community, including the local economy.

"And so far the love and support experienced during this crisis has given us faith that everything will be OK and that once everything is back on track, people will be eager to nurture and support independent local businesses."

Meanwhile, Justine and Luke Harrison of The Ribble Valley Gin Company are also facing a loss of income as they are unable to continue selling their products, and stockists have ceased their orders.

However, the couple, who live in Longridge and distil their small batch gin in their stone outhouse say they will not let the current climate defeat them.

Mrs Harrison said: "There's no markets or events to showcase our products, and the stockists have all but stopped ordering, so our only source of income are internet orders.

"We're planning to relaunch our summer edition gin though, with an extra product available, get back out to meet people and get the business running properly again when we can.

"We have a facebook page with other Lancashire gins called Gins Of Lancashire to support each other and are hoping we can expand and upscale our business once it's all over.

"We hope after all of this and even during this time, wherever and whenever it's possible, people will shop more local and support small independent businesses."

Please get in touch if you are a small independent business and tell us how you're planning to fight back once the coronavirus crisis ends.

Email amy.farnworth@nqnw.co.uk