Warwickshire have announced that a limited numbers of fans will be able to attend the second day of their red-ball friendly against Worcestershire next week.

The move to allow spectators is part of a government pilot programme to support the safe return of fans to sporting venues, following discussions with the ECB and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The club expects around 1,000 members to be able to attend, free of charge, after booking reserved seats in advance. Further details will be released once the process has been confirmed.

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The fixture is the second county friendly that will be used as a pilot event, in addition to Surrey's two-day match against Middlesex on Sunday, July 26 and Monday, July 27.

The club released tickets to members on Wednesday morning, and fielded questions from many of them on Twitter amid high demand. A small number of tickets will also be released to Middlesex members, with details released on Wednesday afternoon.

Members will be required to provide contact details in order to assist with NHS track-and-trace requirements. Families and bubble groups will be allowed to sit together, a minimum of two seats away from other groups with alternate rows left vacant. Catering facilities and bars will be open, with all members encouraged to adhere strictly to social-distancing measures.

While the government's current target is for fans to be allowed back into venues from October, some counties are optimistic that the date will be moved forward if test events are successful, with Surrey's chief executive Richard Gould describing it as "a target to be beaten".

The choice of Edgbaston as a pilot venue may also boost the prospects of some fans being permitted to attend T20 Finals Day, which is currently expected to be held at the ground on September 26.