ABOUT 760 businesses in West Oxfordshire could get a share of more than £1m in rate relief over the next two years.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet agreed to to implement the government scheme today.

Companies with a rateable value of £50,000 or less can apply for up to £1,000 of annual rate relief during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years.

These include shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants and various other services. They will be invited by the council to apply for the relief in the next two weeks.

The council’s cabinet member for resources, Simon Hoare, said: “It is thanks to their own hard work and determination that local retailers have got through the recent tough times and we hope this scheme will give their business a boost, freeing up some funds to help them realise new opportunities, as the economy starts to pick up.”