SCHOOLCHILDREN were pleased to p..p..p..pick up their prize for naming new penguins at Oxford Ice Rink on Wednesday.

Key Stage 2 students from New Hinksey Primary School won a free skating session as part of a citywide competition to name the new skating aids.

Teacher Loraine Christensen said: “The children had a fantastic time, it was really good fun for all of them.

“They were very excited when we told them they had won during assembly, and they were a big success.

“A lot of children used the penguins to help them build up their confidence and have a go, without clinging to the sides.”

Katie Harris, 10, said: “I enjoyed skating with my friends and all the races. They were really fun, you can go really fast and they help you when you can’t skate very well.”

Councillor Mark Lygo, board member for sport and play, said: “Penguins are an ideal way to help children develop their ice skating skills.

“They hold onto them as they skate which can help build their confidence on the rink.”

Pupil Fereshta Qudsi, pictured centre, said: "We fell over lots of times. I was a little bit nervous at the beginning, but by the end I could skate.”

Also pictured are, from left, Malachi Walls, Danny Williams and Adam Haddadene.

The winning names were Snow Angel, Snowflake, Snowy, Fish Fingers, Ice Pole, Lollipop, Icicle, Igloo, Freezerpop, Shooting Star, Ice Slider, Lola, Flip Flop, Flipper and Waddles.