Doncaster health bosses want to ban people from 'local lockdown' areas from St Leger - and that could potentially hit racing fans in Manchester, Leicester, Glasgow and Leeds

The St Leger Festival is due to start on September 9 – and the Government plans to use it as a pilot for the return of spectators to the sport.

Director of Public Health in Doncaster, Dr Rupert Suckling, has outlined ‘10 tests’ he wants to see met – including barring anyone from areas with coronavirus restrictions.

Lock down restrictions are currently in place in Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Trafford and Tameside and Leicester, as well as Glasgow , East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Residents of Leeds have been warned they may become subject to extra restrictions after a rise in coronavirus infections there.

The tests are:

>No significant increase in the borough’s Coronavirus rate in Doncaster ahead of the pilot event

>Coronavirus-specific safety requirements met

>Closely managing elements of the event including spectators onsite (including at the finishing post) the potential risk from cheering as a spreader of infection, and the wearing of face coverings

>Transport plans to get to and from the venue

>Ensuring there is no entrance for people from geographical areas with coronavirus restrictions

>Accurate data is captured on attendees to help validate who is attending and plan for their arrival and attendance

>Enhanced Test and Trace on site and a request to use the NHS app

>Real time event monitoring to manage any issues and review how each day has gone – enabling daily changes

>Coronavirus questionnaire with attendees on their health after the event

>Critical Incident risks addressed throughout the event such as managing gatherings of people, public disorder risks across the borough

Due to the national significance and complexity of the event, the council has declared it a ‘critical incident’ which means all relevant partners will come together including the police, NHS, Public Health England and licensing to ensure the festival proceeds with high level planning and resources in place.

Dr Rupert Suckling, said: “The St Leger Festival is a significant event ordinarily for Doncaster and given the pandemic, this has added a range of new and extra complexities that need to be covered to my satisfaction in terms of safeguarding public health.

“Council officers, including Public Health specialists, will continue to work with the racecourse to proactively manage the festival to ensure it is as safe as it can be. There are some stringent tests I would want to see satisfied to safeguard the racegoers and the wider community. The racecourse, which is positively working with us and appreciates the importance of the tests I have detailed, has considerable experience and knowledge of hosting the festival and these additional tests, I believe, will give greater confidence to myself, racegoers and the wider community that all necessary measures that go above and beyond usual requirements are firmly in place.”

He says failing to meet public health requirements as part of event planning and preparation is a valid reason to refuse spectators to an event.

Some 3,640 people would be permitted entry on the Wednesday with 6,202 on the other days.