The overnight frost on Thursday and Friday was so severe and so widespread that all but one of the area’s eight semi-professional clubs were thwarted at the weekend.

Bradford Park Avenue should have been at home to Buxton in the Evo-Stik Premier Division but their game was one of the first called off.

The pitch at Horsfall Stadium was deemed unfit for play following an early-morning inspection.

However, that decision prevented Avenue being liable for any travelling costs incurred by their opponents and also gave both clubs ample opportunity to reschedule the fixture.

They hastily rearranged game will take place on Wednesday night.

It is already a busy midweek for the non-league clubs but Avenue were not due to be back in action until Burscough’s visit on Saturday.

With time running out to complete the season on schedule, all the clubs are under pressure and midweek dates are at a premium.

Also Avenue, and new boss John Deacey, have had just two home league games since the back end of October, so they need games to start the turnstiles clicking over and the revenue coming in once again.