Get your skating shoes on, Weymouth's real ice rink is returning to the town for the third year this Christmas.

Weymouth BID is once again investing in the town in efforts to promote its offerings and increase footfall over the Christmas period.

Weymouth's BIG Christmas event will run from December 1 until January 1 and will see the return of the popular ice rink, a lighting up ceremony and the arrival of Santa and his faithful reindeer.

In 2016 the real ice rink attracted more than 5,000 skaters - double the amount in 2015.

It will be the same size and situated outside Debenhams, but this year the refreshment counter will be relocated to the skate exchange area.

The BID have also invested in 'super chillers' again in order to keep the ice frozen as in 2015 the warm weather meant the ice rink flooded.

The ice rink will officially open on December 1, followed by the lighting up ceremony of the Christmas tree, with Santa then arriving and taking up residence in his grotto which will be located in Cineworld.

Steve Newstead, Weymouth BID chairman, said “We have gained experience from the 2015 and 2016 Christmas event and have built upon this by investing in the ice rink for a third year.

"The BIG Christmas period will run from December 1 until January 1 and will firmly endorse the message that Weymouth is open for business offering a great variety of shops and the opportunity to experience skating on a real ice rink.

"The WeAreWeymouth website visitor traffic is currently up 75 per cent on last year and we are expecting over two million visitors to the site during the year."

Weymouth BID is also encouraging businesses to get involved in sponsorship opportunities for the BIG Christmas event.

Mr Newstead added: “Some large multiple retailers and services have already put forward their interest. We have made sure that the sponsorship opportunities reflect a range of prices and exposure so that there is something for every size of business."

In 2016 Weymouth BID successfully won £10,000 worth of Christmas lights beating 12 other towns in the Blanchere Christmas Light Competition - the lights will be installed in Weymouth again this year.

There will also be free parking after 3pm in December and free all day on December 2 in car parks managed by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

Ice rink tickets will go on sale in November.

For more information or to get involved in sponsorship opportunities visit weareweymouth.co.uk or call 01305 779410.