Cheshire Police have been working with the council last weekend to ensure venues are abiding by coronavirus regulations.

Trading standards, licensing, environmental health and police officers patrolled Knutsford, Middlewich, Macclesfield, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Sandbach to help educate and provide support to business owners and to talk to residents about socialising responsibly.

Cllr Mick WarrenCouncillor Mick Warren, cabinet member for communities at Cheshire East Council, said: "New measures brought in as part of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic place extra demands on business owners and it's important that, alongside our partner agencies, we provide adequate support and guidance, to help them to continue to trade during these unprecedented and challenging times.

"Patrols and visits such as these are important to ensure that local businesses are given the full support and education needed to help them to do the right thing for residents in Cheshire East. The visits found the level of compliance with these new measures to be good, which should give residents reassurance when visiting venues.

Businesses need to collect customer information for track and trace requirements, either through a QR code using the NHS Covid-19 app or by taking details manually. Other checks and advice included 10pm business closures, table service requirements and face coverings in hospitality venues.

Inspector Duncan Gouck of Macclesfield Local Policing Unit at Cheshire Police said: "It is vitally important for us to work closely alongside Cheshire East Council to support local businesses during this unprecedented time.

"While out on patrol, it was great to see residents sticking to the rules while being able to enjoy themselves responsibly. Officers will continue to engage, explain and encourage locals to follow the rules and will, only as a last resort, enforce where we need to.

"We look forward to continuing our work with the local authority in ensuring that we all pull together to help to reduce the spread of coronavirus."

Further visits and patrols will take place to ensure compliance levels remain at a good level.

Residents are reminded that the rule of six must be adhered to when socialising and are encouraged to use the new NHS Covid-19 app whilst out and about.

The app uses Bluetooth technology to track time and distance between smartphone devices so can notify a user if they have been in proximity of a positive case. The NHS Test and Trace service will then contact users with public health advice.