Boat Race may be postponed

This Saturday's boat race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities could be postponed for 24 hours because of adverse conditions on the River Thames.

A combination of high tides and rising levels of land water might force the closure of the Thames Barrier at the time of the race affecting the flow of the river and making the contest a lottery.

"In such circumstances it would be difficult to hold a fair race," said Barbara Slater, producer of the BBC's boat race coverage.

If postponed, organisers are preparing to stage the race on Sunday at 2.50pm rather than Saturday at 2.10pm.