Bearwood on Ice event will be held again

Bearwood on Ice will return to Sandwell this Christmas after the success of last year's inaugural event, which attracted more than 18,000 people to Lightwoods Park, council bosses said today.

The spectacular ran at the park in the week leading up to Christmas and now organisers are planning to make the event at least three times as big this year.

The festive event featured an ice rink as well as German market-style stalls selling food, drink and gifts.

There was also a fun fair on site, a giant inflatable toboggan slide and a snowman bouncy castle.

Organisers of the event were overwhelmed with its success, with thousands attending over the course of the eight days. And following a meeting of those involved, it has now been decided to press ahead with plans for this year's event.

Richard Marshall, chairman of the Friends of Lightwoods Park group, said: "We are going to do another one again this year but we are going to do it bigger and better.

"It will be a bigger ice rink and a bigger German market. We had 10 huts last year but 40 businesses applied and we will be looking towards the 30 mark this time."