A former Secretary of State for Business has backed firms in Coventry and Warwickshire to bounce back strongly from the economic impact of coronavirus.

MP Greg Clark told a Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Policy Hour video call that the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic will present opportunities for growth in the region.

Asked about the impact of Covid-19, Mr Clark said the recovery from the pandemic would accelerate plans to upgrade transport and communications infrastructure, as well as boosting a competitive business environment.

"Covid is not going to completely change some of the forces that were present before the pandemic struck," Mr Clark added.

"What I think it is actually going to do is accelerate some of them, for example with the development of vaccines.

"It seems to me that we are going to see an acceleration of trends in a number of areas and I think that sense of acceleration is going to be very important.

"Coventry and Warwickshire is certainly in a good position to bounce back and grow after the crisis."

The Tunbridge Wells MP answered questions on a range of topics from the easing of coronavirus restrictions to HS2.

Mr Clark said that he has been "a strong supporter" of the HS2 railway project and that it would improve connectivity, including in Coventry and Birmingham.

"It should have been done years ago," he said, "but it will definitely bring benefits in the future."

Mr Clark also backed the government in taking a cautious approach to the easing of coronavirus restrictions, and said that decisions should be based on "data rather than dates".

Sean Rose, policy officer at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are grateful to Mr Clark for joining us at our Policy Hour video call and answering questions on a wide range of topics.

"As a Chamber, we are doing everything we can to support businesses in the recovery from the pandemic as the final Covid-19 restrictions are eased.

"Members received a really useful insight on the opportunities which could arise from the pandemic recovery and some of the trends which could emerge."