Candidates at next month's local elections have been urged to pledge support for small businesses and the self-employed as they recover from the pandemic.

The Federation of Small Businesses is calling on candidates for council and mayoral elections, which take place on May 6, to back three main actions.

• Get grants out quickly to those that need them.
• Get customers back safely by exploring innovative and collaborative initiatives to encourage people to back their local small firms and high streets.
• Get bills paid promptly to ensure small firms, supply chains and the self-employed are paid within 30 days.

The FSB is also calling for action to help jumpstart the housebuilding sector post-Covid and investigate the impact the pandemic has had on female-led businesses.

FSB England policy unit chairman Ian O'Donnell said: "After an incredibly hard year we are at a critical moment.

"The Government's roadmap has provided small firms with some certainty and confidence moving forward, but to ensure reopening is successful, it must be powered by collaboration and innovation.

"When in office, those elected representatives must make sure their local small business and self-employed community is given the right support over the coming weeks and months."