AN early Christmas present for the people of Lowestoft was unveiled yesterday with the announcement that an ice rink will be in the town in the lead up to the festive period.

AN early Christmas present for the people of Lowestoft was unveiled yesterday with the announcement that an ice rink will be in the town in the lead up to the festive period.

The Lowestoft Town Management Partnership revealed that a synthetic 'Magic Ice' ice rink had been booked to transform the centre of town from December 20 to December 22.

Emma Jones, the partnership's business support officer, told The Journal: “The rink will be located in the area outside Sportsworld and Woolworths near the Christmas Tree.”

This had been identified as the “most suitable” area following a site visit due to the “flatness of the surface.” This area will already be blocked off to traffic due to the Christmas Tree.

Other areas had been considered across town but were unsuitable due to uneven ground.

“The chosen area is very central in town too so it will benefit all retailers,” Ms Jones said. “With the children breaking up for Christmas on the Friday afternoon we are hoping that our ice rink will be a very popular attraction and will bring lots of people and a very festive atmosphere into the town centre with the log cabin boot changing area and the Christmas tree.”

Tickets will soon be available for locals, and details will be released soon.

“There will be opportunities for advertising around the sides of the ice rink and we will be looking for additional sponsors, as well as hopefully getting a market in too so we can make it very festive,” Ms Jones said.

“This will now give us two big events for Christmas in Lowestoft what with the Christmas lights switch on too!”