Weekend sport programme hit by freezing weather

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Carlisle United's Brunton Park home Image source, Rex Features

Image caption,

Carlisle United are bottom of League Two and six points adrift of safety

Freezing weather conditions across the United Kingdom have hit the weekend's sporting programme, with the FA Cup and Challenge Cup among the competitions impacted.

Saturday's all-League One FA Cup third-round tie between Mansfield Town and Wigan Athletic has been called off because of a frozen pitch at the One Call Stadium.

The fixture will now be played on Tuesday, 14 January (19:45 BST).

Shrewsbury Town's League One fixture against Huddersfield has also been postponed, as has Carlisle United's home game against MK Dons in League Two.

The UK has recorded its coldest night of this winter, along with widespread frost, with more bitterly cold weather expected over the weekend.

Five games in the National League have also been called off because of frozen pitches.

The fixtures at AFC Fylde, Altrincham, Barnet, Gateshead and Oldham Athletic will all be rearranged.

Meanwhile, 11 of the weekend's fixtures in the first round of the Challenge Cup have succumbed to the conditions and have been rearranged for next weekend.

Five ties scheduled for the south of the UK are expected to go ahead, while Ince Rose Bridge are asking for help, external bringing in industrial heaters to thaw out their pitch to avoid opponents Longhorn having a wasted trip from Dublin.

Elsewhere, Spennymoor Town's meeting with Alfreton Town and Southport's game against Leamington have been postponed in the National League North.