A SPECTACLE of ice and fire will take visitors to Durham on a journey through time over the next two days.

Organiser Durham Business Improvement District (BID) have unveiled 15 installations at Fire and Ice in Durham, which will form an ice sculpture trail around the city centre, lit by a number of flaming beacons illuminating the works of art.

This year’s winter festival, billed as Travelling Through Time, will see the largest installations yet, with a DeLorean car and replica of Stephenson’s Rocket being the signature pieces.

Sculptures will be positioned around the city, with easy access to all, from 10am to 6.15pm on Friday and Saturday.

Alongside the signature pieces will be a replica of the northern aspect of Durham Cathedral, a working Steam Punk Timepiece and a Viking longship as well, as returning favourites such as the chocolate block and have-a-go wall.

Adam Deathe, business engagement manager at Durham BID, said: “Fire and Ice InDurham is one of our favourite events and has become the city’s most popular annual draw.

"This year’s theme is one that will offer something to everyone and an opportunity for parents to introduce films such as Back to the Future to a new generation.

“Not only is Fire&Ice InDurham a great family event, providing some fanatic photography opportunities, it also provides opportunity to talk about the subject of the sculpture as well as ice as being an artistic medium."

Event producer Scott Hillary said: “The time and effort that goes into the production of the ice sculptures is incredible and so it becomes very exciting to near the actual date of the event when the efforts of the artists are revealed to the public.

“The whole festival is hugely exciting and is guaranteed to be a breath-taking sight to behold when you see all the different installations across Durham City in the ice sculpture trail, lit by the majestic flaming beacons.

“Finding things to do during the school holidays is always difficult and so this event, which is free to attend and in the midst of winter, is perfect – giving all the family excuse to get out of the house”.

As well as getting hands-on at the Chocolate Block, people will also be able to turn their hand to ice carving under the watchful eye of the experts from Glacial Arts, who spend days working in large freezers at their base in Liverpool to bring each icy installation to life, before carefully transporting their creations to Durham in specially designed cooling vans.

For those who prefer to watch from the side lines rather than taking to the power tools to help carve the ice at the Have-A-Go station, there will also be live demos throughout the course of the festival, whereby people can watch members of the team from Glacial Arts – whose work featured in many episodes of the hit TV show Game of Thrones – carve their masterpieces live in real time in front of an audience.

The full programme of events and trail map is available to download at www.durhambid.co.uk/fireandice with more information on their Facebook page.