Swindon Town are hopeful that their game with Southend United will go ahead this afternoon following a giant effort to clear snow off the playing surface yesterday.

Around 40 volunteers cleared half of the snow off the County Ground pitch and the bid to get the game on continues this morning.

Town chief executive Nick Watkins last night appealed for additional volunteers to arrive at the club shop from 8am on Saturday to complete the job.

Despite the efforts of the volunteers – who worked tirelessly for five hours – Watkins still labelled the chances of the game going ahead as 'touch and go'.

Referee Karl Evans was due to hold a pitch inspection at 8.30am and Watkins said last night: "It is still touch and go right now and the referee will make his decision in the morning.

"We have to extend our thanks to the 40 or so volunteers, who gave up their time willingly to help us try and get the game on.

"It was a fantastic effort by everybody involved and they certainly put their backs into it.

"We have cleared half of the pitch and the covers will remain on overnight to protect against the falling temperatures.

"The car parks and walkways around the ground have been fully cleared of all the snow and we are hopeful that all these efforts will not have been in vain."

Swindon was the only remaining league fixture in the West to survive the weather conditions after Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town and Hereford United called their home games off yesterday afternoon.

Cheltenham are playing away at Scunthorpe and will await the verdict of match referee Andy Hall after his scheduled 9am inspection of the Glanford Park pitch.

Bristol City face Norwich City in the Championship at Carrow Road.