YORK'S festive ice rink is back in business - and it may be staying until the end of January.

The centrepiece of the city's seasonal celebrations welcomed customers from 1.45pm yesterday after Clifton-based events manager Mark Brayshaw came to the ailing venture's rescue.

The rink at the Eye of York unexpectedly closed on Christmas Eve when Aria, the company in charge of the attraction, suffered problems.

Mr Brayshaw, of Rockin' Horse Promotions, said: "The response has been fantastic. We thought it would probably be a slow start but we are chuffed to bits.

"My children wanted to come skating and that's why I stepped in to help. If this had failed this year, nobody would have tried again, despite the fact that business is booming."

Mr Brayshaw said four of the 12 Aria-run ice rinks nationwide had now reopened.

The rink will operate until January 4 as planned and negotiations are under way with the equipment owners to keep it open at evenings and weekends until the end of January.

Alison and Jim Clark, both 36, of Thirsk, said they were delighted to see the rink saved as they had brought Alex, ten, and Harry, eight, to York especially to go skating. "Most other cities have one so it's great that York is keeping it," said Alison.

Alison Gammon, 37, of Heslington, York, took five-year-old Hugh skating as a treat for doing well in school.

"We came on the off-chance but the first session was already fully booked so we wandered around the Castle Museum and came back," she said.

Anyone who made a skating booking through Ticketline should receive an automatic refund. Those who booked with Aria should contact rink staff. For more information phone 07901 952363. Under-16s now need the signature of a parent or guardian before skating for insurance purposes.

The picture looked less rosy for skaters elsewhere yesterday after Redcar-based Aria announced it had ceased trading as a results of cash flow and other problems, including an insurance company wrangle.

Rinks in Stockton, Durham, Middlesbrough and Darlington remained closed. Vincent Eckerman, managing director of Aria, said: "We are very sorry this has happened."

Updated: 10:41 Tuesday, December 30, 2003