Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will benefit from an extended business rates break from April, say Powys County Council.

They said businesses in these sectors with a rateable value of less than £500,000 will continue to pay no rates at all for another year from 1st April until 31st March 2022.

The Welsh Government announced the extension to the scheme in Wales to support businesses in their longer-term recovery from the economic effects of Covid-19 and lockdown.

Jane Thomas, Head of Finance at Powys County Council, said: “Rates bills for the new financial year 2021/22 have just been sent out and the discount has been included for eligible businesses.,

“In total, 1,380 businesses across Powys will benefit from the rates of relief which amounts to £11.4 million in discounts.

“This support is in addition to the millions of pounds in business grants that the council continue to pay out.

“The grants have been a welcome sight in bank accounts, and we hope businesses will be pleased to see their discounted rates bill when it arrives.”