A TOP skater who appeared on ITV’s Dancing on Ice programme with Keith Chegwin and John Barrowman will open York’s Ice Factor on Friday evening.

Olga Sharutenko, from The Imperial Ice Stars, will give a performance of spectacular skating on the North of England’s largest outdoor ice rink at the Designer Outlet near Fulford.

Organisers said Olga had been a principal skater with the award-winning Imperial Ice Stars for 14 years, performing sell-out shows around the world including three seasons at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

A spokeswoman said the rink and funfair were currently being installed in the shopping centre car park in preparation for the grand opening, which would be led by Minster FM’s Ben Fry, joined by rink mascot Bobo the Penguin and Gold Bear, mascot of Haribo confectionery, this year’s sponsor of Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland.

“The Christmas light switch-on will take place at 5pm and again at 7pm, with the rink’s viewing platform open for spectators,” she said, adding that both the rink and café would be open for invited guests only, with public skating commencing at 9.30am on Saturday and continuing daily until Sunday January 6.

.She said the rink boasted a 975 square metre surface and was flanked by an alpine skate hire chalet on one side, with a rinkside café opposite, and there were illuminated log cabins, reindeer and Christmas trees.

“Snowmen and penguin stabilisers are aplenty, and the team of highly experienced ice marshals are on hand to get everyone skating,” she added.

For more info, go to www.yorkshireswinterwonderland.com.