Six cup ties survive but freeze could claim more

Of those six ties, at least two games can be rated doubtful. Sunday's televised tie between Hamilton and Rangers is in jeopardy, with a safety inspection planned for 11am today at New Douglas Park, while an inspection will also take place at East End Park tomorrow before the Dunfermline Athletic v Stenhousemuir match.

After losing Morton v Celtic and Kilmarnock v Falkirk on Wednesday, yesterday witnessed the expected postponements of Forfar v St Johnstone, Raith Rovers v Airdrie, Ayr United v Brechin, Albion Rovers v Stirling Albion, Edinburgh City v Montrose and Ross County v Inverurie Loco Works, all due to frozen pitches.

Despite both host stadia boasting undersoil heating, Inverness v Motherwell and Livingston v Dundee were also called off under police advice over concerns about supporter safety.

Hamilton have seen their last two home matches called off and Rangers said on their official website: "The playing surface at the stadium is fine but conditions outside the perimeter walls are causing concern after heavy snow and frost over the last couple of weeks.

"Despite the adverse conditions, Accies are doing everything they can to ensure the land adjacent to their ground is safe."

Aberdeen brought the safety inspection for their tie with Hearts forward by 24 hours and, unless there is a severe deterioration in the weather, the match is set to go ahead.

Hearts said on their website: "It looks as if the game will go ahead as there appear to be no major issues in or around the stadium.

"We have been keeping in regular touch with our counterparts at Aberdeen and, given their liaison with local authorities and the police, we are confident that we will open our Scottish Cup campaign on Saturday."

Partick Thistle v Dundee United and Hibernian v Irvine Meadow are the ties most likely to take place.

St Mirren, who like Hamilton have seen a recent SPL home game called off, are optimistic of their clash with Alloa beating the weather.

General manager Brian Caldwell told the club's official website, www.saintmirren.co.uk: "We are monitoring the weather constantly and are pleased to see that the expected light snowfall forecasted for Friday night is no longer expected – at present!

"We had a snow plough in last night to clear snow from the areas around the stands; we are now trying to get some grit to ensure a clear passage around the stands and ensure emergency exits and entry routes into the stadium are safe for spectators.

"The pitch is looking in good condition as we have had the undersoil heating on constantly."

Most of the postponed fixtures have been rescheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday but, unless there is a significant thaw, all of them face being put back again to the following Monday.

In the Scottish Football League, three of the four scheduled matches have been called off. Only the Peterhead v Clyde match in the Second Division remains unaffected, with the home side confident that the game will go ahead.

A decision will be made today on whether Sunderland's Premier League home clash with Bolton can go ahead tomorrow. Birmingham say they are "extremely confident" tomorrow's game against Manchester United will go ahead.

Three matches in the Championship have fallen foul of the cold snap and Leagues One and Two have been even harder hit, with only six of the 24 scheduled fixtures surviving inspections yesterday.

In the Magners League, Glasgow's match away to Leinster tonight passed a pitch inspection yesterday, but the situation continues to be monitored. Edinburgh's match with Cardiff Blues at Murrayfield Stadium tomorrow evening is expected to go ahead.

The Guinness Premiership in England is facing the possibility of a wipe-out. Two fixtures remain, but are rated doubtful.

There has been no horseracing on turf since Plumpton's meeting on Sunday and it appears not even the all-weather cards are safe from the elements after both Lingfield and Kempton were forced to call off their fixtures yesterday. Although the surface at both venues is raceable, their meeting had to be called off due to a shortage of ambulances as the NHS was forced to prioritise resources.

The postponements mean that no National Hunt racing in Britain is set to take place until Tuesday at the earliest.

Even cricket was affected by the weather, with Sussex forced to cancel an official ceremony to mark the demolition of Hove's Gilligan Stand.