AN OPEN-AIR ice rink, performances from Russian dancers and street markets are among the attractions planned for the city's first Christmas festival.

Oxford City Council is working with a range of partners including Oxford Castle, city centre management company OX1 and the Covered Market on a programme of activities for the festive season.

The event is aimed at attracting more people to the city centre during the festive season.

Council spokesman Louisa Dean said: "We want to make Oxford a really good Christmas destination with international markets, exciting events at the Castle development and the Christmas parade. We want to put Oxford's Christmas on the map for tourists and residents and we hope that the festival will do that."

The event is being organised on the principle that there will be no direct cost to the council other than staff time, said area co-ordinator Rebecca Carley.

Plans for the festival are still in the initial stages and many of the acts have yet to be confirmed.

But the line-up so far includes a continental market in Broad Street, performances from Yarmarka, the Russian dance group from Oxford's twin town of Perm, and a German market at Gloucester Green.

Other attractions will be a Christmas grotto and an open-air ice rink, both at the Oxford Castle complex, and the traditional lights switch-on ceremony.

Arts organisations have also been invited to participate in the programme an idea which has been welcomed.

George Mogg, of Ovada Gallery in Gloucester Green, said: "We often work with artists who do performance or live art working with the public.

"If we are able to be involved with the festival that sounds really exciting."

Debbie Dance, director of Oxford Preservation Trust, said: "I think it is fantastic and by Christmas the heritage centre (at the castle) should be open, so we would hope to be very much a part of it all and welcome as many people there as possible."

The programme will be finalised in the summer.

Tony Joyce, chairman of the Oxford Civic Society, said: "I think it will be good not just for attracting other people into the city but also for people who live here themselves."

Kirsty Kelso, Modern Art Oxford spokesman, said: "Modern Art Oxford is delighted to hear about the plans for a Christmas festival, a great opportunity to bring people together and enjoy the spaces of the city.

"We would be keen to be involved, perhaps with special late nights at the gallery contributing to the Christmas buzz, and promoting Oxford's vibrant cultural life."