FANS of a top ice hockey club that went bust last month are to stage a show of solidarity in Oxford.

About 70 fans of former Isle of Wight team the Wightlink Raiders have been handed free tickets by Oxford City Stars to watch the side take on Streatham on Sunday.

Their side had been vying for the National Ice Hockey League South Division One title but had to fold after bailiffs repossessed their Ryde Arena ice rink.

The Stars have had difficult times of their own recently and are currently in talks with Oxford City Council over 'obscene' car parking charges which they say threaten their future.

As a gesture of solidarity, the club invited Raiders fans to attend Sunday's game when they will stage a protest to raise awareness of their plight.

Stars director James Schall said: "Even before our own issues we wanted to give a gesture to the Raiders fans and given them one last hurrah really.

"We signed a lot of their players when they went defunct and we felt we had to give them a voice.

"It is a chance for their fans to make people aware of the issues they are facing.

"A lot of clubs are teetering on the brink."

The Stars are currently working through a range of issues with the city council, including storage space at Oxford Ice Rink, after warning they were being held back from reaching their full potential.

Ryde Community Action Group chairman Craig Williams said Raiders fans appreciated the support from the Stars.

He said: "We have quite a contingent coming down. We all know the challenges that ice hockey clubs face and I think the parking charges at Oxford are horrendous.

"The free ticket gesture shows the level of support there is out there for us.

"Since the closure of our rink we have had a lot of support from all the other clubs.

"Hopefully we can raise awareness and get things sorted out for next season."

Ryde Arena closed just two months after it re-opened to the public following damage to the building in November 2015.

Last month the Island Echo reported the landlord had re-entered the rink under a forfeiture clause in the lease and that the lease had been forfeit.

The paper reported that a notice stuck to the rink's entrance warned civil and potentially criminal proceedings would be brought against anyone entering or attempting to enter without the landlord's consent.