Shrewsbury Town’s hopes of beating the big freeze this weekend were ended today after their home clash with Barnet on Saturday was postponed.

Plunging temperatures and snow have hit the Prostar Stadium this week, with ground staff battling against the elements in an attempt to get the game on.

Frost covers were put on the pitch earlier in the week, but a lunchtime pitch inspection by local referee Sasa Ihringova ended hopes.

Parts of the pitch remained frozen and, with temperatures due to stay well below freezing over the next two days, there was no chance of a thaw.

Town were the only club in League Two not to suffer a postponement over the Christmas and New Year period.

And they will be disappointed not have the chance to build on back-to-back away wins at Bradford and Chesterfield which saw them climb up to fourth place in League Two.

Meanwhile, manager Paul Simpson has revealed his side have continued their training programme throughout the cold snap on the Power League pitches at the Prostar and at the Shrewsbury Sports Village.

“It’s not ideal but we have got somewhere to train so we don’t have any complaints,” said Simpson.

• Town’s February fixture schedule has been reshuffled after their trip to Rotherham was selected for live television coverage by Sky. That game will now take place on Monday, February 22, with the away clash at Bury moved forward a day to Friday, February 19 to give the players extra time to recover.

BY JAMES GARRISON