LEADERS from the six councils which make up the Liverpool City Region have called for greater financial support to offset any further coronavirus restrictions.

This comes before the Government announces expected new measures to bring down escalating coronavirus case rates in the north west on Monday.

It is believed that the Liverpool City Region, which includes Halton, will be placed on the highest level of the new three-tiered system.

But in a joint statement, council leaders and metro mayor Steve Rotheram said that any measures must be matched with a full financial support package.

They said: “What is clear is that the Government will be announcing on Monday that they are intending to place the Liverpool City Region on the highest level of the new three-tiered system.

“The full detail of what this consists of is not completely clear at this stage.

“Our first priority will always be the health and wellbeing of the people we serve, and we have asked government to provide the scientific evidence to support any restrictions they choose to impose.

“In addition, we have been clear with the Government that the Liverpool City Region’s position is that new restrictions must also be matched with a full financial support package for all sectors of the economy, supporting jobs, the self-employed and public services.

“Discussions are continuing over the remainder of the weekend and we will be in a position to say more once those further discussions have taken place.”