Whitehaven ice-rink is due to reopen today after being closed amid safety fears.

Mayor Raymond Gill, of Whitehaven Town Council, shut the attraction at Castle Park yesterday because of worries about how safe it was to use.

Mr Gill said that over the last two weeks the ice rink had shifted from its original position. As a precaution he took the decision to close the attraction.

Last night a joiner inspected the rink and pegged it back to the ground. Fences around the rink were also secured.

Mr Gill said councillors are set to discuss the ice-rink, among other items, at a meeting on Friday.

It is understood in an unrelated incident, prior to the temporary closure, a child suffered minor injuries on the rink and was treated at the scene by first aiders said Mr Gill.

The idea of opening an ice-rink in Whitehaven over the festive period has been fraught with controversy since it was first reported.

St Nicholas Gardens was the first venue suggested for the rink as part of Whitehaven Town Council’s Winter Wonderland programme of events. But, by the end of October, the town council announced the venue had changed to Castle Park.

The town council was criticised at the time for not applying to Copeland Council sooner for the temporary change of use for Castle Park.

The application was only made at the end of October. Copeland councillors gave the go-ahead for attraction at a meeting in November – just three days before the attraction was set to open.

The ice-rink is set to open every day until the New Year, apart from the Christmas holidays. Priority will be given between certain times on weekdays for school groups to use the attraction.