Wanderers were beaten by the blizzards today when they were forced to postpone their Fourth Round FA Cup Roses battle with Leeds United.

The tie was officially called off at 9.30 this morning by match referee Graham Poll after an inspection of the ground and consultations between club officials and police.

The pitch was unplayable, snow had drifted into two of the stands and supporters, including 3,000 Leeds fans, faced horrific transport problems.

Spectators should retain their tickets for use on the re-arranged date - Tuesday, Feb 6 (ko 7.45).

Heavy overnight snow left Burnden Park under a white blanket, three to four inches deep and groundstaff had no chance of paving the way for the match to be given the go-ahead.

"The snow was everywhere," Wanderers chief executive Des McBain explained.

"The only part of the ground that escaped was the Burnden stand but all the seats in the Great Lever and three-quarters in the Manchester Road stand were covered.

"It would have been an impossible task to clear the snow from the terraces and the stands.

"There is no question of the decision being the right one. We spoke to police and at the time only one lane of the M62 was open and the snow was still falling. The safety of supporters was a major consideration."

Mr Poll, who travelled yesterday from his home in Tring, Hertfordshire, had no hesitation in calling the game off, as he put it: "from the players point of view and the supporters."

"It would have been a lottery for everyone and you don't want that in an important game like this."

Elsewhere a score of soccer matches, rugby union clashes - four in the Pilkington Cup - and three race meetings were hit.

In the FA Cup, Manchester City's game at Coventry was an early victim and that was re-arranged fpr Wednesday, February 7. Liverpool's tie at Shrewsbury was also called off.

The fifth round of rugby union's Pilkington Cup was halved by the blizzard-like weather.

The losses included the eagerly-awaited clash of Rob Andrew's Newcastle with Will Carling's Harlequins. The Courage League game between Moseley and Northampton was another casualty.

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