What an ice time!

GET your skates on! Eight-year-old Nicole Spate and sister Keira (5) on the town centre rink

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THE magic of Christmas came alive as a Festive Village brought crowds flocking to Oldham town centre.

The opening weekend of the fairytale and pantomime-themed shopping experience was packed with seasonal cheer.

Oldham Council’s deputy leader Jackie Stanton, town centre manager Mark Lester and the Christmas event programme’s artistic director Mark Llewellin opened the attraction on Saturday.

Highlights include a synthetic ice rink surrounded by 21 specially-built cabins featuring everything from exotic Caribbean foods to winter warmers such as hot chestnuts and mulled wine.

Entertainment included the Milltown Cloggies, a Bavarian band, Denton Band, UK champion balloon modeller Twistina, Punch and Judy and visits by Rudolph, Snowy the Snowman, Snowflake the Polar Bear, a walking Christmas tree and the Fairy Godmother. Each weekend has different performers.

Mr Llewellin said: “We began planning this event in November, last year — it’s been a huge project and many people have put in a massive amount of time and effort.

“Over 10,000 people have attended our Christmas events this year so far and we are hoping for lots more to come along to the Festive Village.”

The Festive Village continues each day until Sunday, December 13.

The ice rink costs £1 for 20 minutes between the hours of 10.30am and 3.30pm.