SOUTHAMPTON is to host one of the biggest outdoor ice rinks in the country this Christmas, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal.

The Civic Centre car park will be transformed into a 720sq m ice rink - enough room for 225 skaters to be twirling and skidding at any one time.

Southampton's Christmas ice rink will dwarf Winchester Cathedral's 575sq m ice rink, which attracted a record 42,000 skaters last year.

London's Hyde Park boasts Britain's biggest outdoor ice rink, with 1,400 square metres of the park accommodating 400 skaters at a time.

Ice skating is enjoying a popularity boom across Britain thanks to the success of the hit ITV show Dancing on Ice, starring singer Suzanne Shaw and former ice dance champions Torvill and Dean.

Operators Skateco - who run popular temporary ice rinks at London's Canary Wharf and O2 Arena - confirmed they were in talks with Southampton City Council.

The openair rink w o u l d run for up to eight weeks, from the first week of December to the third week of January, and cover the whole of the Civic Centre's forecourt.

Skateco boss Brian Jokat, a Canadian entrepreneur, said Southampton was an ideal location for one of the biggest rinks ever to be operated outside of London.

"We would not take the chance with this if we didn't think it would be a success," he said.

"Southampton has got the population base, there is a great university and it's a great location at the Civic Centre."

Mr Jokat said ticket prices in Southampton were likely to be cheaper than the Canary Wharf Christmas ice rink. In London, the price per person for a one-hour session cost £7.50 for children, concession (£9), adult evenings/weekends (£12) and adult weekdays (£10).

Mr Jokat said he would invite local schools to join an accredited four-week programme to help teach children how to skate.

Skating enthusiasts were dealt a blow last year when the council decided to axe the attraction to avoid a repeat of the previous 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.

Tory Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said it was his objective for Southampton to host the premier outdoor ice rink in Hampshire.

"We are in discussion with Skateco and we are exploring the options for a temporary ice rink to be provided on a commercial basis at no cost to the council, but at the same time we have remained open to holding discussions with other potential operators," he said.

"The Civic Centre will provide a wonderful backdrop for the temporary ice rink and it demonstrates that Southampton is potentially attractive to operators who would be willing to operate their services on a commercial basis."

Alternative parking arrangements will be made for city council employees.