SKATERS enjoyed their final pirouette on the ice rink last weekend as Yorkshire Winter Wonderland closed for another year.

Now in its fourteenth year, the seven week-long event remained as popular as ever, welcoming 51,000 skaters over the Christmas period.

The ice rink at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet welcomed a familiar faces this year, with Olga Sharutenko, from The Imperial Ice Stars, opening the event back in November while former England cricketer, Ryan Sidebottom, took to the ice in December in preparation for the ice skating competition, Dancing on Ice.

Throughout the seven-week period the ice was resurfaced 320 times and ended up nine inches thick by the time the event closed, using 178 tonnes of ice.

In total, more than 43 schools from across the north of England came to enjoy the ice rink as well as Santa's Grotto and the vintage fun fair.

The Wonderland also welcomed a school from Holland who dropped by for a skate in December.

Spokesman for the Ice Factor, Maria Farrugia said that the fairground even managed to raise some money for a worthy cause.

She said: “Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland was thrilled to receive just over 51,000 skaters in what is now our 14th year of running this fantastic York event.

"The grotto welcomed nearly 3000 children to visit Santa and nearly 33,000 enjoyed the vintage fun fair, with the dodgems being the most popular ride.

" fair even managed to raise £500 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance so a huge thanks to everyone supporting the charity when visiting our event.

“We give our thanks to the ice marshals who clocked up approximately 4500 miles on the ice to help ensure everyone had a safe and fun time.”

Mrs Farrugia said they were already looking forward to their return in November to bring even more fun to York.