Snow and freezing temperatures forced the cancellation of a number of football matches and race meetings on Tuesday.

Wigan fans heading to Bristol Rovers in SkyBet League One were spared the lengthy and potentially tricky journey when the game was called off just after midday.

Referee Stephen Martin described it as one of the easiest decisions he had to make.

“Unfortunately with the forecast and the present conditions it was an absolute no-brainer,” he told bristolrovers.co.uk.

“The whole pitch is frozen, it is dangerous for players and it wouldn’t be a good spectacle.”

That match was the most high-profile to fall victim to the weather but there were other postponements in the National League, with Guiseley’s match at home to Barrow and Boreham Wood versus Maidenhead both called off.

Three of the four games in the National League South were also called off while the Scottish Championship matches between Brechin and Dunfermline, and Dumbarton and Inverness, also fell victim to the weather after lunchtime pitch inspections.

There was no possibility of horse racing at Ludlow, Catterick or Musselburgh but it did go ahead at Chelmsford.

“We’ve had about five centimetres of snow and there is more forecast so it is not going to go away,” said Catterick clerk of the course Fiona Needham.

“With the temperature as it is and more snow expected, it was an easy decision.”