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Plans for Everton's new stadium are not expected to be hit by the coronavirus, it's been revealed.

Behind the scenes, work is set to continue on the scheme in the northern part of the city.

The vast majority of Liverpool Council's meetings are cancelled until further notice and many of its staff are focusing on the response to the outbreak.

However planning committee meetings are currently still going ahead, lowering the chances that a backlog of applications could push approval for the stadium back.

That means there are still high hopes that the project will receive planning permission this year despite .

The club originally said they were hoping for the stadium to get planning permission in the summer and, , both the club and the council are still working towards that date.

Shortly before consultation on the stadium closed last week the project was praised by Northern Powerhouse Partnership director Henri Murison, who said it could prove a catalyst for economic growth after the .

Mr Murison said: “Clearly the priority is protecting people’s health but you will have seen what the chancellor said about how we keep the economy going and there are significant projects like the stadium in north Liverpool which will make a big difference to the economy, not just in Liverpool but the wider north.