Tent used to prevent pitch from freezing

It is to ensure Sunday's televised game against Peterborough does not fall victim to the weather.

Aerial view of a football stadium with a protective cover, resembling a huge white tent, over the playing surface. There are four stands surrounding the pitch. The word
The heated dome at Lincoln City's LNER Stadium [Chris Vaughan/LCFC]

Lincoln City have brought in a heated dome to ensure Sunday's televised game against Peterborough United does not fall victim to the cold weather.

It works by blowing heated air beneath the cover to prevent the pitch from freezing.

Grounds manager Liam Markie said he was confident the dome, which is on loan from the English Football League (EFL), would do its job.

Temperatures are expected to fall to as low as minus 5C (23F) over the weekend, but Mr Markie added: "We should be absolutely fine for Sunday."

He said he had a "little app" on his phone that allowed him to monitor the temperature and moisture of the playing surface.

The EFL has stepped in because the club's usual frost sheet covers are not suitable in such low temperatures.

"They will work to about minus three or four, but we've got no daytime temperatures - I think the highest we are getting to is two degrees," Mr Markie said.

The dome is due to remain in place until Sunday morning ahead of the Sky Bet League One game at 12:00 GMT.

Elsewhere, the cold snap has resulted in Boreham Wood's top-of-the-table National League fixture against York City on Saturday being postponed because of a frozen pitch.

The fifth-tier match between Scunthorpe United and Sutton United has also been called off.

The Met Office - the UK's national weather service - has issued a number of amber and yellow weather warnings for snow and ice.

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Category: General Sports