Bolton Council has been named as the recipient of a share of an £800,000 Local Digital Fund to build on digital advances made during the coronavirus.

The council will receive £23,000 of this to ensure that people who aren't used to accessing council services online, and would usually opt for face to face contact at council offices, can still access services.

This will include looking at remote and self-service ways of helping residents.

Actions that are being considered include the introduction of sealed pods for face-to-face conversations.

Local government minister, Simon Clarke MP, said: "Councils have made huge efforts to support their residents at this testing time ­— by housing rough sleepers quickly, supporting vulnerable people and ensuring services such as bin collections continue.

"They have had to adapt their services from in-person to online, using technology to do so and I am determined we capitalise on this and use everything we have learned to improve efficiency and make services better for residents and communities."