Swadlincote area Covid-19 marshals - reminding residents and businesses about Coronavirus guidance - could be kept until next March.

South Derbyshire District Council hired two Covid marshals in January and says they have been a great success.

The two marshals, employed by Red Snapper Managed Services for £12.50 an hour, have also been deployed to patrol local parks and support Covid compliance at polling stations during the election and at council meetings.

Now the district council says the roles are due to expire at the end of August, but it would seek to extend the roles until March 2022, using the remainder of the original £52,000 in Government funding given to the authority in October.

The council says that half of the funding has been used so far: "The original brief for the marshals was to engage, explain and encourage best practice with businesses and shoppers in central Swadlincote.

"Their role was subsequently expanded to provide compliance audits in local businesses, with over 500 audits completed.

"The marshals have also patrolled local parks and open spaces, together with supporting compliance at polling stations and Committee meetings."

In February, Frank McArdle, chief executive of the district council, had said marshals had also focused on supermarkets and takeaways to "minimise the spread of infections".

The marshals do not have enforcement powers, but can provide advice and alert the police, and council environmental health and trading standards teams to issues.

Legal restrictions around the wearing of face coverings and social distancing have now been dropped, as of July 19, but the personal responsibility to follow guidance to prevent the spread of Covid-19 remains.

Here are the roles and responsibilities of the Covid marshals, as detailed by Red Snapper Managed Services:

• Provide advice and education to business and the public

• Capturing and reporting evidence and intelligence of non-compliance

• Conducting business compliance inspections

• Moving groups on that are ignoring the current regulations

• Ensuring compliance of local Covid-19 regulations with the public and businesses

• Dissemination of information on best practice

• Monitoring of signs and physical measures to ensure compliance

• Work closely with other multi-agency partners (Police, community safety, environmental).

• Acting as 'eyes and ears' on the ground; Covid-19 Marshals are responsible for advising on any breaches of social distancing and where necessary, reporting ongoing problems for further intervention.