Watford FC’s Sir Elton John Stand could have its capacity reduced by 1,000 for tomorrow’s first Premier League home game, it has emerged.

Serious concerns have been raised about the safety of the new stand, including damage to walkways caused by the building of a new media centre, according to information seen by the Watford Observer.

Despite the building of a temporary entrance and turnstiles on Wednesday night, Watford Borough Building Control, the police and the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) issued a prohibition notice following concerns about flooding at the top of a staircase leading to one of the main exit gates from the new East Stand.

The notice prevents the use of the affected area and exit gate and therefore reduces the capacity of the stand by around 1,000.

Yesterday evening no progress had been made, and the advice from local building control was that the bad weather will make it difficult for any concrete to be ready for Saturday's game against West Bromwich Albion.

The club are therefore reportedly looking at other temporary options such as building a level slip resistant platform over the affected area for the sold-out game.

There will be a joint inspection at 3.30pm today, where the prohibition notice will be lifted if officials are happy that the area and exit gate are safe to be used.

The club has been approached for comment.