ALL grassroots sport has been suspended until further notice, following an announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening.

While amateur adult teams learned their fate on December 30 when it was announced the North-East would be moved into Tier 4 the following day, junior football was allowed to continue across the region.

However, it wasn't as straightforward as that.

Prudhoe Youth Club had given the following example of the stipulations.

A spokesman for the club said: "Further to the latest Tier 4 restrictions, all adult grassroots football is suspended.

"Whilst junior football is allowed to continue, there are implications for several of our teams, coaches and players and consequent disruption to various leagues' fixtures in view of new travel restrictions.

"Essentially any teams and/or individual players, parents or coaches can only travel for training or to play matches in their own Tier 4 area, for example, for Prudhoe this is the Combined Authority of North Tyne, comprising the local authorities of Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside.

"Travel to Gateshead, South Tyneside, Durham or Tees Valley (and vice versa) to play games or to train is not permitted, for example, a Prudhoe YC team cannot travel to Gateshead to play a fixture and a player or coach who lives in Ryton cannot travel into Prudhoe to train or play."

With that in mind, junior football teams from the Tyne Valley were due to play fixtures on the first weekend of 2021 against local opponents, including the U17 West Division Cup semi-finals between Hexham rivals Greens and Whites.

However, due to the heavy snow and icy conditions experienced, all junior games were postponed.

Monday evening's announcement, though, means no games can take place for the foreseeable even if within the same county, with all non-elite sport being suspended by the Government.