NWCFL has suspended football season due to new Tier 4 restrictions.

The league, which features Longridge Town, Charnock Richard, Burscough and Garstang, was due to go-ahead with a full fixture list this weekend.

League chairman Paul Lawler said in a statement: “ Following the announcement by the UK Government placing the majority of areas in the North West into Tier 4 – the league’s emergency committee has no choice but to once again suspend the League season.”

“The FA issued the following guidance for T4 areas last week, which we didn’t circulate at the time as it wasn’t applicable to us, but for the avoidance of doubt, non-elite sport is not allowed at all, either the playing of matches or training and players cannot travel into or out of T4.

“At this moment in time we will not be setting any dates on when or if we will resume again but I will begin consulting with clubs in due course to ascertain their opinions on a way forward.

“It is a disappointing end to a very difficult year but the health and wellbeing over all concerned has to be the priority.”