CAFE and restaurant owners across a Hampshire borough are being encouraged to apply for a "Pavement Licence".

Eastleigh Borough Council has urged businesses to take advantage of the nationwide "Pavement Licence" scheme which was launched last year through the Business and Planning Act 2020.

This comes as High Street and Market Street remain closed to vehicles due to the pandemic.

This scheme was aimed at making it "quicker and cost effective" for businesses to place furniture on pavements on a temporary basis while social distancing measures were in place.

Now, as businesses prepare to reopen their doors as restrictions are eased, the borough council has reminded businesses that there will still be various restrictions in place after lockdown, and that they should make sure they have applied for or renewed their licence in advance.