Carlisle United fans could finally be back in Brunton Park soon.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an announcement today on plans to emerge from the national Covid-19 lockdown from December 2.

And the PM confirmed that fans will be permitted to attend outdoor events, including sporting fixtures, in the tiered system which will replace the national measures.

He said "spectator sports will be free to resume" with capacity limits and social distancing required.

The number of fans that are allowed to attend games will depend on which tier area a club is in.

In tier three, the highest level of restrictions, no fans will be allowed to attend.

But in tier two, up to 2,000 people will be permitted.

And in tier one, the limit will be 4,000 people.

Johnson made a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon, with MPs to vote on it later in the week.

Fans have not been allowed to attend Blues games all season - other than a pilot event in September when 1,000 supporters watched the 2-0 victory over Southend.

Further test events for crowds at "elite" sporting events were subsequently shelved because of rising coronavirus infections.

Grassroots and amateur sport has been halted since early November.

Carlisle had just moved into tier two restrictions when the current national lockdown was announced on October 31.

The Blues have a home game on the day the lockdown is due to end - the visit of Salford on December 2, next Wednesday.

Their second home game after the lockdown is agains Stevenage on December 12.

Their first away game after lockdown is on December 5 at Bradford, which was in tier three at the start of the month.

Responding to the announcement, Carlisle said the news had come "out of the blue" and are awaiting confirmation and details.

Speaking on the club's website, chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “With the second countrywide lockdown still in place, we were as surprised as anybody to hear the news from this afternoon’s briefing.

“Media reports say that clubs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas will be permitted to allow fans to attend matches from 2 December, to be capped at crowds of 4,000 and 2,000 respectively. 

“It has come as out of the blue – and we are now looking forward to seeing our supporters back with us at home games, when it’s safe, and in-line with whatever the next new set of guidelines may dictate.

“We have been contacted by the EFL already who say that although they have had numerous discussions with Government officials over the last seven days on this issue, they await formal confirmation of the Government’s position, and the details, and they will be confirming their guidelines on a return of fans as soon as they possibly can.

“This is exciting news, but we ask fans to be patient as we wait for the details which will allow us to give you the information you need.”

The prospect of fans being allowed back to games will give a boost to United and their fellow clubs who have been starved of vital matchday income this season.

The EFL said they "welcomed" the announcement and looked forward to some clubs being able to open their gates to fans again.

They said it is "an important step in achieving a return to normal".

They said clubs who had participated in pilot events earlier in the season had already demonstrated they are "well positioned to deliver the safe return of fans". 

The League said it would continue to work with clubs to ensure they have up-to-date safety procedures in place.