This Christmas Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland.

Each weekend this month, the ice rink will be adorned with Christmas decorations and a special snow machine will create a wintry feel. Elves will greet skaters and there will be live performances of Christmas carols.

Surrounding the rink will be Christmas market stalls with local producers selling seasonal produce, plus a Christmas craft area and a Santa’s Grotto.

Chelmsford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor Julia Jeapes, believes this will be an exciting new seasonal attraction for Chelmsford.

She said: “We’re very fortunate to have such a good ice rink in the city and it’s wonderful that we can transform Riverside this December to create the perfect winter wonderland for the people of Chelmsford.”

The winter wonderland will also be open for non-skaters to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the Christmas market, a mince pie and glass of mulled wine.

The Winter Wonderland will be open every weekend this month. Skate prices start from £8.70 per person and children can visit Santa from £5. Santa’s Grotto will be open 10am to noon and 2.30pm to 5pm – weekends and Thursday mornings up to December 24 and will cost £5 for skaters and £8.50 for non-skaters.

For more information, visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/winterwonderland