TONIGHT'S Division Three clash between Bury and Oxford United was called off this morning because of a frozen pitch.

Shakers last night called for Football League officials to check the playing surface after freezing temperatures turned the ground rock solid.

Club officials held little hope of the fixture going ahead and manager Andy Preece admitted he would favour a postponement rather than risk serious injury to his players.

"You always want the games played, whenever possible, because you want to close the gap on the leaders but I wouldn't be too disappointed to see it called off," he said.

"I don't want us playing on hard pitches because they don't do us any favours. A hard pitch can be a good leveller and I think it helped Leyton Orient beat us on Saturday.

"The quarter of the pitch near the South Stand was unplayable. I would rather wait and play the game on a decent pitch."