AN MP has shown his support for ambitious plans to bring safe standing areas back for football fans.

MP Andy McDonald joined members of the Middlesbrough Supporters Forum (MSF), chairman Chris Joseph and secretary Peter Hodgson, to watch Celtic play Hamilton to stand in the rail seating section of Celtic Park.

Mr Joseph said: "Celtic made us very welcome. We know from our own surveys and those of other football clubs, including Liverpool, that football fans want safe standing areas to become a feature at our English football grounds.

"Make no mistake, this is in no way a return to the terraces of old like the Holgate End at Ayresome Park. Celtic were kind enough to invite us to see and experience it for ourselves and Andy McDonald accepted our invitation to join us and make the trip up to Glasgow.

"With a barrier in front of every seat, with every seat bolted back and plenty of space – except for UEFA matches when seats are down – they have found that it is the easiest part of the ground to steward without a single safety incident.

"The Celtic fans, including families with small children, enjoy a fantastic vibrant atmosphere standing in the rail-seating season- ticket only area. There is no danger of falling forward, unlike in the Premier League and Championship where standing in front of seats without barriers is commonplace but ignored by the authorities and impossible to steward. Safe-Standing areas are also a feature of the Bundesliga.”

John Paul Taylor of Celtic F.C, who gave the trio a tour of ground, said: “Rail-Seating definitely is a safer alternative for fans who plan to stand in seated areas.”

The Middlesbrough MP said: “I was delighted that Chris and the Middlesbrough Supporters Forum invited me to visit Celtic Park and see the rail seating in action. It is clear to me that safe-standing areas are popular, provide an excellent atmosphere in the ground and most importantly are safe for fans. I will be taking this up with the Sports Minister and lobbying for safe standing to be permitted in grounds in England.”

And Mr Joseph added: “It was a worthwhile fact-finding exercise and we will be presenting the details of our first-hand experience to the club at the next MSF meeting."