YORK’S biggest ever ice rink opens to the public today - after a test skate yesterday by a panto cow called Patricia.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, based again in a car park at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Fulford, boasts a 975 square metre rink this year - nearly 100 square metres bigger than in 2016 and the largest outdoor rink in the north.

There are also more Bobo the Penguin stabilisers, which help the little ones skate, the skate hire chalet has been given an alpine make over with rustic wooden walls and a vintage funfair features rides from the golden era of fairgrounds, including Brooklands Dodgems from 1937.

Patricia the panto cow visited the rink yesterday during a tour of York landmarks, ahead of rehearsals starting for Jack and the Beanstalk at York Theatre Royal. She also pulled a pint in a pub and called into The Press for writing tips as she considers a blog.