The government is optimistic it can move towards a safe return for fans to watch sporting events in stadiums, according to Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said spectators could be able to return to stadiums in England from October.

Warwickshire faced Worcestershire at Edgbaston on Tuesday as part of a pilot programme which saw a limited number fans allowed inside the ground.

Mr Huddleston said: "We need to take the natural baby steps moving forward."

The MP for Mid Worcestershire told BBC Sport the government will look at the pilot events and how to build-up the number of spectators over time.

"I'm confident that we can find a way to move forward," he said.

"Of course, whether it's sports stadiums or theatres and all sorts of other things, we've seen in other countries there is a way to get full audiences without a vaccine.

"I'm confident that there are measures that can be put in place that can give both those taking part in the sports and spectators confidence that they are going to somewhere safe."

Among the pilot events are the Snooker World Championship, the Goodwood horse racing festival, and another county cricket friendly between Surrey and Middlesex at The Oval.

Any stadium re-openings are subject to coronavirus guidelines.

England this week have finished playing a three-match Test series against West Indies - which England won 2-1 - which was played without fans while football has been played behind closed doors since its return.

Dartford have won two National League South play-off matches this month and will face Weymouth this Saturday in the play-off final, but Darts fans have not been able to attend their play-off games.

On Friday, the start date for the 2020/21 Football League season was confirmed, meaning Gillingham will be back in league action on the weekend of September 12.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the National League informed its member clubs their new campaign is expected to start on October 3 but it's not yet been confirmed whether supporters will be able to return to stadiums by then or not.

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