Werribee races abandoned because of smoke

Racing at Werribee has been abandoned as smoke haze blankets Melbourne and surrounding areas.

Air quality at Werribee is described as hazardous with no improvement likely throughout Tuesday.

The smoke haze is from bushfires in the north and north east of Victoria and the south coast of NSW.

Several race meetings in both states have been moved or abandoned over the past few weeks.

The forecast for NSW is for rain late in the week.