Headingley looks set to have a reduced capacity for Lancashire's NatWest T20 Blast clash with Yorkshire this season.

The Roses showdown is usually a sell-out on both sides of the Pennines. But the 83-year-old Rugby Stand at the Leeds venue may have to be closed this summer for safety reasons meaning the ground will have a reduced 14,000 capacity.

Ticket sales for seats in the stand have already been suspended for both the T20 clash and England’s one-day international against Australia and Yorkshire on September 11.

Chief executive Mark Arthur has explained the area may not be used again over the next two years before plans go ahead to rebuild it in time to host an Ashes Test in 2019.

He said: “The upper-floor balustrade at the front of the balcony has been condemned, awaiting a further structural engineer’s report.

“It’s basically corroded at the front of the stand – some of the plaster has come off the front of the balustrade, and it’s just not safe. If somebody leaned against the front of the balustrade, they could fall straight over and straight down.”

Arthur added: “Obviously, the safety of spectators will always come first.

“Until we know the extent of the problem, it’s better to close the stand and not sell any more tickets in case the repairs would prove to be a greater expense than any derived income over the next two years, bearing in mind that we will be rebuilding that stand in time for the 2019 season.

“If it’s going to cost over £100,000, we’re not going to spend that money and throw good money after bad. We simply wouldn’t open the stand unless it was absolutely safe to do so.”