STOCKTON Borough Council has released their weekly coronavirus update.

Phase two of the extended local business grants fund scheme – for small businesses significantly impacted by the pandemic – opened on Friday (June 26).

The extension means a number of new categories of businesses are now eligible for grants.

Applications must be in by Sunday, July 12.

Full details and an application form can be found on our webpage www.stockton.gov.uk/coronavirus/businesssupport.

The cashiers desks in the council's customer service centres will re-open from Monday, July 20.

The cafés in Preston Park and Wynyard Woodland Park opened on Saturday (June 27) for take-aways.

From Monday, (July 6) the council's larger libraries – Billingham, Norton, Stockton, Thornaby Central and Yarm – will open for book returns and book collections only, operating from 10am to 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

From Monday, July 20 the service at the larger libraries listed above will be extended to include limited browsing and access to ICT facilities from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The council's play areas will re-open from Saturday, (July 4).

There are a number of play areas in the borough, however, that won't reopen and these parks may reopen on a different date.

Preston Park Museum will re-open on Monday, July 20 and a number of measures will be in place to ensure everybody’s safety, including a requirement that people book their visit in advance.

Details will be available in advance on the Preston Park Museum website: www.prestonparkmuseum.co.uk.

Use of the fountains and Stockton Flyer in Stockton High Street is expected to resume from Saturday, (July 4).

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies will resume from Saturday, (July 4).

You can also keep up with all coronavirus related developments in the borough, including details of the range of support available, via their webpage on www.stockton.gov.uk/coronavirus.

The council's Facebook page (@stocktoncouncil), Twitter (@stocktoncouncil) and Instagram (@stocktoncouncil) also have the latest news.

The council has been providing weekly updates on the coronavirus outbreak.