BLACKBURN Rovers have blamed a burst pipe for the postponement of last week's Premiership game with Sunderland.

Club officials launched an immediate investigation after the undersoil heating system failed to cope with a sudden drop in temperature before last Wednesday's game, but everything is now back working to full capacity.

Rovers came under fire after calling off the game just a couple of hours before kick off but the club identified the problem after an investigation.

Managing director Tom Finn said: "The engineers quickly established that there was a leak in the heating system and eventually identified a split in one of the pipes between the boiler house and the pitch under the Darwen End concourse.

"The leak must have occurred in the 24 hours prior to kick-off. A subsequent lack of pressure meant that the system was not operating to full efficiency which resulted in selected areas of the pitch being unplayable.

"We have now carried out the necessary repairs and everything is back working to full effect."

Rovers will send a formal explanation to the Premier League - the requirement after every postponed fixture - and Mr Finn added: "The club has an excellent record in avoiding fixture postponements and it was very frustrating for everyone concerned to lose a key home game over the festive programme. We accept that a number of people were very inconvenienced and once again express our apologies for that."

Discussions will take place shortly concerning a new date and all tickets will be valid.