A Bolton-based restaurant chain is calling on businesses within the hospitality sector to write to the Health Secretary.

Retreat, who have sites in Bromley Cross, Chorley New Road and Adlington, have written to Matt Hancock asking why Bolton is being subjected to different rules.

Restaurants, bars and pubs in Bolton were forced to close nearly three weeks ago, being limited to takeaway only. 

Meanwhile hospitality businesses in the rest of the country have been able to remain open with a 10pm curfew in place.

The restaurant have shared a template email on a Facebook post and have urged other businesses to use it.

Their post, shared on Sunday afternoon, has already gained significant traction online.

Richard Hibbert, the director of Retreat, said: "We are just being ignored. David Greenhalgh and the MPs Chris Green and Mark Logan have been pushing for restrictions to change.

"They have been saying that Bolton needs to be put on a level playing field. But unfortunately the national government aren't taking any notice.

"We were told to close because Bolton had the highest rate, we had exceeded 120 cases per 100,000.

"But now there are 26 other boroughs who have higher rates then this and their hospitality businesses haven't closed.

"It just feels like one rule for us and one rule for everyone else, we have been left hung out to dry.

"It's totally unjust. They seem to be ignoring everyone in Manchester; the MPs, the Mayor, the papers, they're not taking any notice.

"What we want is to be able to open until 10pm like the rest of the country, or ensure that other boroughs with high rates have to close businesses like us.

"We've got 70 staff to pay, we have bills to pay, we have furlough payments to pay.

"How do they expect us to fund this when we have no money coming in.

"There's a grant which gives you £1,000 for every three weeks you are closed.

"Well, 10% of our payroll is four grand. These are not zero cost businesses.

"Somewhere like Retreat is well established, so we should be ok at least until Christmas, but this will be the end for other businesses, and Retreat can't last forever either."

You can find the template on Retreat's Facebook Page.