Ellesmere winter festival ice rink plan ditched

Organisers of Ellesmere's winter festival have had to ditch its ice rink after just one year, because they have failed to find anyone willing to sponsor it.

The ice rink formed the centrepiece of last year's event.

Officials had originally hoped to make it an annual feature of the winter festival, but today said last year's was looking more like a 'one-off'.

Organisers of Ellesmere's winter festival have had to ditch its ice rink after just one year, because they have failed to find anyone willing to sponsor it. The ice rink formed the centrepiece of last year's event.

Officials had originally hoped to make it an annual feature of the winter festival, but today said last year's was looking more like a 'one-off'.

Lincoln McMullan, chairman of Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce, said: "The winter festival is being planned and it should be a good event.

"We normally have Santa arriving by barge on the canal, but this year I would like to see him go on a float around the town followed by children with lanterns.

"We will not be having an ice rink this year.

"We have got no sponsorship for it so it is looking like last year's was a one-off."

Last year the rink on the canal wharf, was sponsored by Tesco, which donated £2,000 towards the staging of the event.

Schoolchildren were allowed to use it free of charge, while the paying public were allowed to use it later on.

At the festival snow machines will be used to transform the town into a winter wonderland.

The event , on November 25, will also features carols in the square, stalls, funfair, refreshments, donkey rides and late night shopping.

There are also plans to encourage visitors to attend in fancy dress, which has become a feature of the event in previous years.