EVERY pound spent in Knutsford and Wilmslow will support jobs in the community.

That is the message from Cheshire East Council, which is urging residents not to pop over the border into Tier 3 Greater Manchester for Christmas shopping this month.

Instead, residents are asked to support their own high street, where Tier 2 restrictions are in place for coronavirus.

Cllr Sarah Pochin, CEC's business champion, said: "Every pound you spend keeps local business and jobs afloat.

"Invest in your local businesses to maintain the character of our towns and communities and help keep Cheshire East a great place to live, work and socialise.

"Not shopping in your local town this Christmas poses the threat that many businesses won’t survive the financial inflictions of the virus next year.

"We all have a responsibility to help where we can, and what better time than spending local at Christmas."

CEC is working with businesses to make sure they are Covid-secure, with safety measures including hand sanitiser and face screens in place to protect staff and customers, while card payments can be safer than handling cash.

Residents are also asked to keep two metres apart, to wear a face mask inside shops and to consider wearing one when queuing outside, and to cycle or walk into town if possible.

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should stay at home.