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A new campaign to support businesses that are safely open for business in the West Midlands has been launched.

#WMOpen4Biz aims to encourage shoppers and residents to safely return to town and city centres to give the local economy a boost - and help ensure businesses can survive the pandemic.

The campaign, which is being run by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has been kicked off by Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, who visited a variety of independent shops in Wolverhampton and Birmingham to see how they had made themselves ‘Covid-secure.'

The Mayor said: "Coronavirus continues to have a big impact on our way of life and shows no sign of stopping, meaning we must learn to live safely with it. This is critical because whilst we face a public health crisis, we also face an economic one too. 

"It is brilliant that so many local businesses, shops, restaurants, and a whole host of other venues have re-opened their doors despite the difficult times, but they need support to stay open.

"As well as Government support which we are lobbying for, small acts such as buying a morning coffee from a coffee shop, picking up lunch from a sandwich bar, and shopping on your local high street for essentials instead of online, can make such a difference to these businesses, their employees, and ultimately the West Midlands economy. 

"So I want to encourage everyone who can to safely get out to our brilliant local shops and restaurants once again. West Midlands businesses are open, and they have gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of workers and customers, so please remember to socially distance and wear a mask."