Whitehaven will be dancing on ice as part of a £30,000 Christmas extravaganza.

St Nicholas’ Gardens is to be turned into a winter wonderland with an ice rink, snow machine and Christmas tunes.

An ice-skating display will take place on Saturday, November 26, to launch the attraction. It will be open for six weeks over Christmas.

Laser light shows are also set to be projected on to St Nicholas’ Church.

“It will be a Christmas extravaganza,” said Les Abrahams, Whitehaven Town Council clerk.

The Winter Wonderland programme is being organised by the town council. It will feature a host of activities including the lights switch on, ice rink, stalls and other activities.

Mr Abrahams said: “We are going to encourage the schools to use the ice rink free-of-charge during term time. And we want to make it a family event that will attract people from as far away as Penrith and South Cumbria.

“Thanks goes to St Nicholas’ Church for such a great location,” he added.

The town council is building on last year’s successful Christmas events which included The Grinch.

Darren Elliot, chairman of the town council’s Christmas events sub-committee, said: “We received a great deal of support last year and are looking to achieve bigger and better things this year, such as an ice rink in St Nicholas’ Gardens, a high-profile music event featuring Jolan, and many more activities for children and adults alike.”

The launch of the festivities will

take place on Sunday, November 20, with the town’s Christmas lights switch-on.

Singing sensation Jolan, a finalist on The Voice , will switch on the lights at 5pm.

A competition is set to be launched for youngsters to have the chance to join the singer to press the button.

The event will also feature the usual fairground, CFM stage and vendors.

Jolan will perform a concert at Whitehaven Civic Hall later that evening. The event is in partnership with Rosehill Theatre Group.

Tickets are set to go on sale next week.

The town council projects the cost of the whole programme of events to be around £30,000, which they hope some of will be recouped.

The town council will be working with organisations including the chamber of trade, Copeland Council, BEC Energy Coast, as well as schools and dance schools.