A SKATING rink is to run for two days in Witney, fulfilling a Christmas dream of the town’s mayor.

Witney Town Council will pay £1,500 towards a synthetic rink for Langdale Hall for December 22 to 23.

Town mayor Harry Eaglestone said some had opposed the council paying for an ice rink.

But he said: “I have been wanting one for some years as I have been on the council now for five years.

“This has normally been pooh-poohed by the rest of the council.

“I was determined to do something now I am mayor.

“If I propose something and it is feasible then we go along with it.”

He said: “I felt it was something for the community, it is something different at Christmas.

“It’s exercise for children, they don’t get the chance to skate around here, the nearest place is Oxford.”

An extra £500 has been given by Nexus Community, which runs the district’s leisure centres.

The town council’s contribution will come from cash kept in the mayor’s charity fund, which is made up of money raised through fundraising events.

Conservative Mr Eaglestone said: “We will get the money back, we are pretty sure about that.”

He said he planned to charge £4 for a 30-minute session.

Any profits will go to his chosen charities for his mayoral year.

They are Charlbury-based SpecialEffect, which helps young people with disabilities to enjoy computer games, and Witney youth centre Base 33.

Labour town council member Duncan Enright said: “As long as the taxpayer is not paying for it is is not a problem.

“It is good for it to be raising money for charity.”

The rink will be provided by South Yorkshire-based Get Ya Skates On.