SOUTHAMPTON'S skaters have been given an early Christmas present - but they will have to wait another year.

City leaders have confirmed that an ice rink will once again return as the likely centrepiece for the city's festive celebrations.

The Civic Centre car park will be transformed into a winter wonderland next December, under plans being discussed by council leisure chiefs.

The council is confident of signing a deal with a well-known commercial ice rink operator - which has remained confidential - within the next few weeks.

The development comes after skating enthusiasts were dealt a blow earlier this year when the council decided to axe the popular attraction to avoid a repeat of last year, when the ice rink attracted only half of the 40,000 skaters it needed to break even, leaving the council with a loss of £60,000.

No businesses responded to an appeal in July to prop up the 2007 event with sponsorship, and the council did not want the taxpayer to subsidise it should it not break even.

Tory councillor John Hannides, Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said that the mistakes of last year would not be repeated as the event would be run on a commercial basis by the rink operator.

For the full story, see today's Southern Daily Echo.