THE Government has reiterated its pledge to look into the possibility of introducing safe standing areas at football grounds following pressure from a North-East supporters group.

Members of Middlesbrough Supporters Forum have continued to voice their support for safe standing, and have invited Tracey Crouch, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society, to join them at Celtic Park in Glasgow to see it in operation.

Despite turning down the invitation, a spokesperson for Ms Crouch said the government was reviewing its all-seater stadium policy, with initial analysis work expected to be competed by the end of the year.

A spokesperson for Ms Crouch said: "Over a million people watch football every week and we are grateful for the engagement of fans from across the country in expressing their views.

"As well as looking at what evidence already exists and assessing its reliability, that work will look to identify any important gaps in data, including injury data, and recommend the best ways of filling them.

"I should inform you that officials and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) have visited Celtic Park to see and experience rail seating."

Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland MP Simon Clarke has already given his backing to safe standing.