The town's first ever outdoor ice rink is being installed in the Parade before its grand opening on Saturday. 

Visitors this weekend will also be given a free waffle.

Installation of the rink has been taking place this week and started when a platform was put down, covered with a polythene sheet stop water leaking out. 

A total of 27,000 litres of water was then pumped across a grid of cooling pipes to create three inches of ice.

Glycol passes through the pipes at -12 degrees to keep the ice frozen.

Mark Smith from Icescape is managing the installation.

He said: "It is real ice here, rather than synthetic. We will have stewards on the ice all the time to make the customer experience an exceptional one.

"They are not teachers, but they will go round giving tips on how to skate and picking people up so they do not too long on their bums on the ice.

"There’s just a buzz about ice skating and providing the weather stays nice and clear, you are skating under the stars and it’s a lovely experience – especially at Christmas.

"But wrap up warm and wear gloves."

Sessions last 45 minutes and can be booked online up to midnight the day before.

The rink will be open from 11am to 9pm daily and last admission is at 8pm.

Tickets can be purchased from the Watford Palace Theatre box office by telephoning 01923 225671 or visit www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk.