Tourism chief says £10m 'not enough'

The government has pledged £10m to support tourism businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but a leading Lancashire figure says more needs to be done to support one of the largest contributor's to the county's economy.

Rachel McQueen, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, says that out of a national funding pot, the county could receive as little as £200,000, and will be restricted to handing out grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 to individual businesses - possibly £5,000 in exceptional circumstances.

However, tourism is one of the county's largest industries. From the internationally-acclaimed Blackpool illuminations through to award-winning pubs and restaurants, the sector has been hit hard by the lockdown.