COUNCIL bosses hope a change in the rules for businesses in to claim cash from a new coronavirus grants will improve its take-up.

Blackburn with Darwen Council was given £3,678,533 from the government's new Covid 19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF).

But only 101 claims were made.

This month's meeting of the council's executive board has now abandoned the existing digital system where eligible businesses were invited to apply for the money online.

Now proposed the authority's business rates team will review the details of all potentially entitled firms and make a direct award to accounts.

Its finance boss Cllr Vicky McGurk told Thursday's meeting she now hope all the money could be given out adding: "We have businesses in the borough who will need this and we want as little as possible left over."

The move was welcomed by Cllr John Slater, leader of the council Tory group who said: "I want this drilled down so eligible businesses in the borough all get it."

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley said: "As with all our Covid grants we want to send as little back to the government as possible."