YORK’S popular ice trail is set to return in 2022.

The event was cancelled this year due to lockdown restrictions - but tourism body Make It York is already making plans for the trail to return in February 2022.

A spokesperson said the event, which is the UK’s biggest outdoor ice trail, will take place on February 5 and 6.

More than 31,000 followed the trail in 2020 when its theme was ‘fantastical fiction and fairy tales’.

Forty sculptures were placed across the city and interactive ice carving walls, live demonstrations and family activities took place alongside the displays.

The theme for next year’s trail has not yet been revealed.

Ashley Young from Make It York said : “The York Ice Trail is a unique event and we are incredibly proud of how it’s grown each year.

“Whilst we were disappointed not to be able to hold an ice trail event in 2021 due to the Covid restrictions, planning has been going on behind the scenes to look at how we can bring the event back next year and make it better than ever.

“It is a fabulous family friendly event that gets visitors exploring different areas of the city and helps to support local businesses by driving footfall at a typically quiet period.

“We are looking forward to unveiling the trail’s theme for 2022 later in the year and working with businesses across the city to plan some spectacular sculpture designs.”

According to the tourism company, 72 per cent of visitors to the trail in 2020 said they explored streets they would not normally walk down.

They also found that visitors supported other businesses, including shops, cafes, restaurants and tourist attractions.

Companies can sponsor ice sculptures by emailing sales@makeityork.com and further details will be announced later this year.