BASINGSTOKE'S ice rink will not be allowed to reopen next Saturday, as the government has backtracked over its unlocking measures.

As reported in this week's Gazette, the Leisure Park's Planet Ice was gearing up for a big reopening on July 25, after four months of closure.

But today, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has U-turned over its decision to allow ice rinks to reopen.

The news has come as a blow to the Basingstoke facility and has been described by the team as an "extreme disappointment".

A spokesman for Basingstoke's Planet Ice said a civil servant had contacted their company, which owns a number if rinks nationally, and told them the advice had been changed.

In a statement, they wrote: "It is with extreme disappointment that today Planet Ice were informed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that ice rinks cannot currently open on July 25.

"A representative of DCMS apologised that the guidance that had been issued did initially include ice skating rinks but stated that ice skating rinks had been included by accident and that the relevant government document had now been revised.

"In terms of when ice rinks could open, DCMS confirmed that all of the relevant documents required for ice sports to resume had been received and approved by the government and that all that remained to occur was an announcement from the government with a formal date.

"We are aware that a large number of skaters and hockey players have purchased either public skating or private sessions in anticipation of Planet Ice rinks opening on the 25th July and we would like to confirm that any sessions purchased will be transferred to the equivalent sessions when we are allowed to reopen.

"DCMS has made it clear that they believe a date for when rinks can reopen will be announced shortly.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we are able to."