CROWDS of families and visitors are flocking to York this weekend but not all are coming for shopping or sight-seeing.

They are touring the city streets in search of ice sculptures.

The biggest outdoor Ice Trail in the UK, according to organisers Make It York, this year features 45 figures scattered from Monks Cross to Micklegate.

The city centre streets were full of groups in search of a penguin, Aladdin's Lamp, a pig with wings, Garfield, angels, a moonface with stars, and the nameless Mighty Viking on Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, who was the focus of a naming competition.

Each sculpture was sponsored by a local business or organisation and often were immediately outside their sponsor.

Many families had come to York specially to see the annual festival of frozen art and declared that this year's display was as good as ever.

Sally Greenaway, head of Visit York, said: “This year is even bigger and better than previous years since we started the York Ice Trail in 2015.

"With the support of the headline sponsor, York’s Ultra Fibre Optic from TalkTalk, we have been able to provide York visitors and residents with a truly fantastic event.”

Come back later for many more pictures of this year's sculptures.