HEREFORD United has been granted a safety certificate allowing matches to take place at Edgar Street - but half of the ground's stands will be closed off.

Herefordshire Council this afternoon granted the Bulls permission to open the stadium to the public after awarding the club a ground safety certificate which had been withdrawn more than a month ago.

But the ground's capacity will be limited to just 1,000, with both the Len Weston Stand and Blackfriars End closed.

United face St Neots Town at Edgar Street on Saturday.

A council spokesperson said the whole ground wouldn't be open to fans until "all partner agencies involved are satisfied that any outstanding issues have been properly addressed".The council and emergency services, acting in a Safety Advisory Group capacity, have again met with HUFC representatives to discuss the club’s general safety certificate.

The council statement said: "The council can confirm that whilst the club has met a number of statutory requirements surrounding spectator safety at Edgar Street, which will allow the first home game to go ahead on Saturday 9 August, there are certain stipulations attached to the certificate.

"The club will only currently be allowed to play football matches in front of 1,000 spectators using both the Merton Terrace and Merton Stand at Edgar Street, as opposed to a full capacity crowd, until all of the partner agencies involved are satisfied that any outstanding safety issues have been properly addressed."

United chairman Andy Lonsdale told the club's official website he was pleased with the decision.

“We are really pleased to finally get everything in place, it has been a battle to get there, but finally it is all coming together," he said.

"Thank you to the local authorities for their support during the process.

"After a long hard summer for the club and fans we hope that the football will now do the talking."

Hereford was expelled from the Football Conference and demoted two divisions to the Southern Premier after failing to pay all of its football creditors.