Outdoor grassroots sport due to return when lockdown ends

Grassroots sport can return early next month... it is expected. Photo: Getty Images

Outdoor grassroots sports is set to return when lockdown ends in England on December 2.

The news will come as welcome relief to football and grassroots clubs struggling to survive across the country.

Gyms will also be allowed to open, while kids grassroots sport is also expected to return.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a statement today during which he will unveil the Government’s new Covid Winter Plan, it can be revealed.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said: "I'm desperate for it to come back.

"I am pretty hopeful and confident as we go back into the tier system. It's top of the list for us to get it back from December 2. I know how valuable it is.

"We have to go through a proper process of evaluating the evidence; we have to wait until the final decisions are made.”

Allowing crowds at open-air stadiums is also an idea being discussed - but the main problem is getting fans to and from the venue without the risk of infecting people on public transport.