Shropshire Star

New look Telford Ice Rink praised by stars

[gallery] The £4 million refurbishment of Telford Ice Rink got a massive thumbs up from celebrities and residents alike who turned up to try out a host of free activities.

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Kyran Bracken, back left and Dan Whiston on the ice with Charlotte Murray, fifteen, from Hadley, Grace Byrne, nine, left, from Bridgnorth and Briony Urquhart, nine, from Trench

Dancing on Ice stars Dan Whiston and Kyran Bracken spent half an hour signing autographs and having pictures taken with the crowds outside Telford Ice Rink on Saturday before going inside to meet members of the town's figure skating and ice dance club.

The celebrities then had to shoot off back to Birmingham to prepare for the Celebrities on Ice at the NIA, when Dan once again teamed up with Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, who also used the rink for Dancing on Ice training in between gymnastics training sessions at Lilleshall.

The official re-opening weekend gave residents the chance to try out all the activities on offer at the rink for free, including skating lesson taster sessions, the chance to watch ice hockey and figure skating, and public skate sessions under the rink's new disco lighting.

Rink manager James Craig said the weekend had been a great success. He said: "Feedback has been really positive and I think everyone has had a really good weekend. We have tried to represent everything that goes on at the ice rink during the week in just one weekend.

"Visitors had the opportunity to chat to members of the ice hockey club and figure and ice dance club as well as have free skating lessons as well."

Mr Craig estimated that about 1,000 people passed through the rink over the weekend, with the free public skate sessions proving particularly popular.

Telford MP David Wright and the mayor Councillor Kevin Guy were among the local dignitaries who visited the rink. The ice rink closed for three months last year for the £4 million refurbishment.

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