'No plans' for return of town's winter ice rink

Ice rinks have become a popular temporary addition to many towns and cities in winter

A town which has had a temporary ice rink installed in its main square for the past two years will miss out this winter.

Crow Leisure Group and Middlesbrough Council said there were "no plans" for a Middlesbrough on Ice in December and January, as there had been in 2022 and 2023.

The events company, which supplies ice rinks, confirmed it was looking at a new location for 2025.

Director Kennedy Crow said: "Unfortunately we couldn't make it work this year but plans are under way for something bigger and better."

'Brand new location'

The 2022 Middlesbrough on Ice began with the town's Christmas lights switch on in November when hundreds of people watched live performances and a firework display.

As well as the ice rink, there were a variety of stalls and food outlets.

But it closed before Christmas, with organisers Crow Leisure Group blaming "technical issues beyond our control".

While the event was held in 2023, Middlesbrough Council said it would "not return" to Centre Square this year according to the local democracy reporting service.

But Ms Crow said there was a future for the event.

"The brand new location will include a lot more alongside the ice rink, it's something we are very excited about," she said.