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A leading Greater Manchester business figure has warned that "complacency" over the spread of Covid-19 could "seriously undermine" the local economy.

Andrew Roberts, chair of the Bury Business Leadership Group, has said rising infection rates across the borough mean businesses should take the threat of a local lockdown seriously.

There have been six consecutive weeks of rising rates in Bury, a situation Mr Roberts described as "really alarming".

Mr Roberts, who is also local Bury president of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, added: "Bury businesses need to be absolutely meticulous in following national and local restrictions. Otherwise they might face much more stringent measures, a local lockdown that could harm their businesses and the wider local economy.”

Mr Roberts, managing director of locally headquartered technology company, Avoira, said that neighbouring economies could benefit if Bury doesn’t get its act together.

He said: “Other Greater Manchester towns have reduced or maintained low infection rates. Trade will move to those boroughs if they see restrictions lifted whilst Bury goes into lockdown.

“To stop this happening, businesses must ensure they have and enforce rigorous Covid safety protocols.

"These might include implementing segregation in communal areas like canteens and smoking areas, one-way systems, temperature testing and sanitation stations. If such measures keep a company, and Bury, in business, that’s an investment, not a cost.”