Pubs and restaurants in Wells are being given the green light by the Government to legally sell hot food takeaway during the coronavirus outbreak.

Currently, planning permission is required for businesses to carry out a change of use to a hot food takeaway.

But the Government has now confirmed the rules are being relaxed to allow businesses to deliver the service without a planning application.

The move is the latest in a series of practical steps the Government is taking to support businesses and help people who need to self-isolate, as well as vulnerable groups and older people who have been strongly advised to avoid social contact outside their homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: "We are committed to doing everything we can to tackle the pandemic and support people, businesses and communities through this difficult time.

"These changes will provide vital flexibility to pubs and restaurants and will ensure people are able to safely stay at home while still supporting some of the great local businesses across this country.

"The Government has confirmed the relaxations to planning rules will be put in place as soon as possible to provide reassurance to businesses and enable them to start providing takeaways to people quickly."

The measures will apply only to hot food and drinks. Serving alcoholic drinks will continue to be subject to existing licensing laws.

The Government will introduce a time-limited permitted development right through secondary legislation to allow the temporary change of use of pubs and restaurants to a hot food take away for a period of up to 12 months.

Pubs and restaurants in Wells will need to tell Mendip District Council when the new use begins and ends.