AN ice rink will be opening in Stockton in time for Christmas.

The temporary ice rink is due to open on Friday, November 1 - BBC Children in Need Day.

It will be outside Splash Swimming Pool on Church Road, in Stockton, and will be paid for by Stockton Borough Council.

The rink will be run by an outside company called Aria. The cost of hiring the rink for four months would be £80,000 but it is expected that most of the project will break even. It will be used for Children in Need promotional events.

Last year winter ice rinks were opened in Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Durham City.