Businesses struggling to pay their rent will be protected from eviction until the end of the year.

It comes after Welsh Government announced plans to extend current protections, which were set to come to an end on September 30.

Economy minister Ken Skates made the announcement on Tuesday (September 22), with Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf under local lockdowns and four more set to follow due to a rise in new coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

Mr Skates said: “This will prevent unreasonable evictions in the run up to the crucial Christmas period, protecting jobs and safeguarding businesses.

“However we also recognise the need to develop sustainable ways to provide stability and certainty to businesses and workers long-term in order to drive economic recovery.

“As part of this we will continue to make the case to the UK Government to provide the further necessary support as we plan for a prosperous post-pandemic Wales.”

Deputy minister for housing and local government, Hannah Blythyn, said: “Ensuring Welsh businesses can remain open, without fear from eviction, is vital to ensuring our town centres can continue to thrive in a post-pandemic Wales.

“The extension of measures to protect business from eviction until the end of the year will not only support but provide certainty for businesses in the run up to and throughout the busy festive period.

“Businesses have overcome new challenges since the start of the pandemic.

“The repurposed £9m of funding I recently announced earlier this year was to support the safe reopening of town centres and to allow businesses to continue to trade in a safe environment despite these challenges.

“Giving our towns a sense of place is more important than ever.”