Two sister dailies have unveiled their biggest ever ice rink after launching the annual attraction for the fourth time.

The Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News have run a rink in the city over the Christmas period since 2015, with more than 17,000 people taking to the ice last year alone.

Now publisher Archant has installed a larger rink at Norwich’s Castle Mall Gardens to cope with demand, and up to 20,000 skaters are expected over the coming weeks.

The rink, which is made from real ice prepped between every session, has increased in size to 420 square metre, which Archant says means 40pc more skaters will be allowed on it every hour.

Skaters enjoy the EDP and NEN’s new larger ice rink

Tim Youngman, the company’s director of marketing and communications, told HTFP: “The EDP and Evening News Ice Rink has grown and grown over the last four years and now is a Christmas must do for people in Norwich and Norfolk.

“This year we have increased the size of the rink considerably to cope with demand from our readers and the people of Norwich and Norfolk and we are expecting 20,000 local residents to enjoy their time on our real ice rink helping make their Christmas special.”

The rink opened on Friday and will run until Sunday 6 January, closing only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day with slots on the hour, every hour from 10am to 9pm.

Tickets cost £12.50 for an adult, £8.50 for children, students and concessions, while a family ticket which includes two adults and two children, or one adult and three children, costs £36.