Bolton could be released from regional restrictions banning people from meeting with other households indoors after the bank holiday weekend.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and all 10 council leaders have backed Bolton’s bid to be lifted from additional restrictions on social visits.

The government is expected to announce its decision on Thursday evening.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, council leader David Greenhalgh said he has been in “direct communication” with the health secretary who he hopes will accept Bolton’s case to relax the rules.

He said: “There is a meeting later on today at government level.

“We have sent in our own separate report from our director of public health.

“If it follows the same cycle as previous weeks, a decision will be made later on today and an announcement I would imagine early evening.

“I have been in communication directly with the Secretary of State to put the case forward and he’s responded.

“I’ve been in politics long enough to know that until I hear that announcement nothing is guaranteed.

“I’m not even going to say I’m cautiously optimistic because different things happen.

“But certainly, he’s listened to the case very attentively. We believe we’ve put a case forward that should be listened to.

“We believe the time is right for Bolton now to have those restrictions eased. I just hope that the Secretary of State and the Gold Committee respond to that later on today.”

The government announced last week that the neighbouring borough of Wigan would be released from the regional restrictions on Wednesday.

Coun Greenhalgh is expecting a similar process to take place this week.

This means if the government announces that restrictions will be eased in Bolton, this may not come into effect until after the bank holiday weekend.

He said: “I think it’s just coincidental actually that it’s August bank holiday. I think whether it had been any weekend this would have been the case.

“I think they need a few days to get the new communication out there and people need time to prepare and get their houses in order in terms of the implications for businesses as well.”

But the Conservative council leader said he cannot rule out restrictions being placed on Bolton again if the coronavirus infection rate rises significantly.

He added: “This isn’t an excuse suddenly for people to go mad. People still have to adhere to the guidance, but this will be something we can prepare for and get the communications ready.”