SHOPS in Brentwood are being urged to apply for business retail relief.

Businesses in the town could save £2,000 in the next two years by registering for the discretionary government scheme, which was introduced last December.

The businesses that qualify will have already been sent details with their Business Rates bill, but they are being reminded to contact the Council's Revenues Billing Team.

Dozens hops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, coffee houses, post offices, markets, petrol stations, opticians and garden centres that have a rateable value of £50,000 or less are eligible for the scheme.

David Kendall, Brentwood Borough Council's Chair of the Business and Town Centres Committee, said: “We are pleased to support this scheme, which will provide much-needed rate relief to around 500 businesses in Brentwood. The take up of reliefs has been patchy, but we want businesses who qualify to take advantage of this opportunity.

“These businesses are vital to our borough, providing essential services and boosting the economy so it is important that we, at the Council, do what we can to help them.”