TOMORROW sees grassroots sport make a welcome return to Somerset after the latest Covid-19 lockdown.

Schools and colleges have been back since March 8 - allowing youth sport to return - and now the latest relaxation of restrictions is set to take place across England.

It means an end to the ‘stay at home’ rule, and people can meet outside - either with one other household or within the ‘rule of six’ - although they are still urged to stay local as much as possible.

These new guidelines allow for outdoor sport facilities (including basketball and tennis courts, and golf courses) to reopen, and for formally organised outdoor sports (such as football and rugby) to restart.

Brean, Burnham & Berrow and Wedmore Golf Clubs are all ready to reopen - with golfers having to book tee times in advance online - while Avenue Tennis Club is also ready to go again.

READ MORE: Tennis club eager to open doors again

Team sports being allowed to resume enables cricketers, footballers and rugby players to resume training.

Burnham United AFC’s 1st XI are looking to play a friendly match against a Somerset County Football League team on Saturday, April 3, and the Reserves are wanting a fixture on April 10.

Football Association guidance (here) states that players “should avoid travel at the busiest times and routes, as well as minimising any unnecessary journeys where possible”.

Changing rooms must remain closed, and spectators are not allowed at this point.

Burnham-on-Sea Rugby Club will resume training on Thursday, April 1, from 7pm.

And with West of the England Premier League and Somerset Cricket League fixtures scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 1, teams are eager to start outdoor training and pre-season matches at the start of April.

Burnham-on-Sea Cricket Club, for example, are set to play their first pre-season friendly of 2021 away to Long Sutton on Saturday, April 3.

The England & Wales Cricket Board has published guidance for players here.

What’s still to come?

From Monday, April 12 - providing that Covid-19 cases continue to fall - indoor leisure venues such as gyms and swimming pools will reopen, albeit without indoor mixing between different households.

The third step of the government ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown is to follow on Monday, May 17, when the ‘rule of six’ is to be abolished for outdoor gatherings, and replaced with a limit of 30 people - enabling fans to return to sporting fixtures.

Six people or two households will also be able to meet indoors from May 17, meaning that indoor group sports and exercise classes can restart.