WEYMOUTH will be permitted up to 800 fans in their first home game after lockdown, Echosport can confirm.

The clarification on crowd numbers comes after Dorset was placed into Tier Two restrictions following lockdown.

Using the 'SG02 Planning for Social Distancing at Sports Grounds' handbook, Weymouth have calculated that 800 socially-distanced fans can attend the home game with Halifax on Saturday, December 5.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock today announced a more stringent tier system in Parliament.

On Monday, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced Tier Two elite clubs could host 2,000 fans or 50 per cent capacity - whichever is smaller.

The Terras' Bob Lucas Stadium holds around 6,600 fans but after applying the SG02 literature, the club's Covid-safe attendance limit will initially be 800.

This figure will eventually rise to a maximum of 1,900 once Weymouth can prove their Covid-safe mechanisms are working.

Last season, Weymouth regularly attracted crowds of between 1,000 and 1,500 and more were expected after sealing promotion to the Vanarama National League.

Details are unclear for non-elite clubs in Steps 3 to 6, such as Dorchester, Portland United and Bridport.

However, once the SG02 guide is implemented, the Magpies will at first host significantly less than the theoretical 2,000.

Dorchester boast the sixth-highest average attendance in the Pitching In Southern Premier South with 407.

Prior to lockdown, clubs in Step 3 were permitted up to 600 fans - a feat the Magpies achieved when entertaining Salisbury.

Again, due to the SG02 handbook, Portland and Bridport can only host significantly less than the theoretical 1,000 despite their respective Camp & Satherley Stadium and St Mary's Field grounds holding a maximum of 2,000 people.

Both teams were allowed up to 300 fans before the second national shutdown.