A regional daily has issued a plea for investment to Rishi Sunak in an open letter on its front page.

The Yorkshire Evening Post has called for the Chancellor’s help, warning of a potential £12bn hit to West Yorkshire’s economy if he does not intervene.

The plea, on which the Leeds-based daily splashed on Tuesday, came after West Yorkshire Combined Authority asked for funding and support from Mr Sunak.

On the front page, pictured below, the YEP urged the Chancellor to “do the maths”.

In an accompanying comment piece, editor Laura Collins wrote: “In an open letter, [the authority] warn that without action the pandemic could lead to 58,000 job losses in the region and see the West Yorkshire economy shrink by £12bn this year alone.

“And that is why the Yorkshire Evening Post is backing that plea to support our region.

“So many lives and livelihoods have been impacted by the virus.

“It’s a simple request. We’re asking the Chancellor to do the maths on this – and help make sure our sums stack up on the road to recovery.”