Ice rink returns - with 20,000 lights buried in it

The ice had to be built up in layers

An ice rink built using 40,000 litres of water and with 20,000 lights placed in it is opening.

Leicester's annual temporary ice rink in Jubilee Square will open to the public on Thursday.

This year a food court and an arcade gaming area, including an air hockey table and basketball games, have been added to the attraction.

John Davies, project manager for Ice Skate Leicester, said it took about six days to build the rink - which measures 720 sq m - to the correct level.

John Davies said more than 40,000 people visited last year

He said: "We have managed to bury 20,000 LED lights in the ice.

"They can colour change, flash and do all sorts of different things to give a very different skating experience."

He said the 40,000 litres of water were gradually sprayed and applied to the ice mats underneath while 8,000 litres of heat transfer fluid was also used to create the ice, which has a surface temp of -3C.

"It's quite a feat to build an ice rink. It is a lot of time and a waiting game. We have to develop the ice slowly, build it up in layers," he said.

Mr Davies added dealing with the weather can be tricky.

"Recently in Leicester, it's been very humid and summer-like so it brings its own challenges when the marquee becomes warm and doesn't help the freezing process," he said.

"There's a great team here and we have successfully delivered this in Leicester for many years, and hopefully that will continue."

The rink will be open every day from 10:00 to 22:00 until 5 January, but will be closed on Christmas Day.