Hundreds of families took to the ice for the opening weekend of Watford Big Skate.

The ice rink at the top of town was opened on Saturday and is the latest in Watford Borough Council's Big Events series.

Extreme skaters, the Birmingham Ice Freestylers, wowed crowds throughout the day and delivered a special performance as darkness hit.

Breakdancing, stunts and fire-breathing were all part of the act.

The much improved rink is bigger this year and was created with 36,000 litres of water – 9,000 more than last year’s, meaning thicker ice and a better skating experience.

First-time ice skater, Nancy Conoboy, said: “We’ve had such a good time at the Big Skate - even my two-year-old had a go. The staff are lovely and the show was so impressive. Watford has a great atmosphere this season, especially with the German Market. We plan to come back for another afternoon out.”

Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill added: “It was a wonderful opening day for the Big Skate and luckily the weather held off. Reports show that almost 10,000 more visitors flowed through the town compared to an average Saturday. We want people to make the most of what Watford has to offer this winter - from the German Market and the ice rink to the panto and the grotto.”

For more information or to buy tickets for Watford Big Skate visit watfordbigskate.co.uk.