This is Staffordshire -- HUNDREDS of families have been getting their skates on at an ice rink in the run up to Christmas after a successful fund-raising campaign. Congleton Community Ice Rink has opened in the Bull's Head car park, in Mill Street, after £10,000 was raised for the project. Businesswoman Cathy Morris, owner of Clarity's Hairdressers, joined forces with five other salons to generate cash for the venture. Cathy said: "I opened up the salon 25 years ago and I owe the success of it to all the people in the town so I wanted to give something back to the community. "I came up with the idea for an ice rink because it's something that all the family can enjoy and we have never had one in the town before. "I spoke to a couple of the local salons and they all agreed to help come up with ideas to raise the money. "Our target was £10,000, which is quite a lot of money, but we were determined to do it." The ice rink was finally opened by town mayor George Hayes on Friday. Fund-raising events included including hair and fashion shows and fish and chip supper evenings. Cathy added: "I was really emotional when I went to the opening on Friday because it was great seeing the children's faces light up when they were skating on the rink. "It was really overwhelming how much support we had for the project." Traders say they have already experienced an increase in spending. Pat Kelly, landlord of the Bull's Head, said: "We have had a a lot more business in the pub in the last few days which is fantastic. "When I heard about the project, I offered to have the ice rink in my car park because the land there is flat and there's plenty of parking space as well. "The rink has been busy every day since it opened and a lot of my customers are going outside to see it because it's so festive with food stalls and there's even a snow machine outside. "I think it's great there's something like this in Congleton. It makes the town special." Mother-of-one Jayne Kirby came to visit the ice rink with her seven-year-old daughter Olivia on Saturday. The 43-year-old, of Dale Crescent, Congleton, said: "I think it's lovely that the traders have got together to raise money for this project. "My daughter never been skating before but she absolutely loved it. It would be good if something like this was set up again next year." Daven Junior School pupil Olivia said: "I was really excited when my mum told me we had tickets for the ice rink. "I really enjoyed going skating with my friend Grace and my favourite part was when I went past the snow machine. It was so much fun."
Reported by This is 6 hours ago.
This is Staffordshire -- HUNDREDS of families have been getting their skates on at an ice rink in the run up to Christmas after a successful fund-raising campaign. Congleton Community Ice Rink has opened in the Bull's Head car park, in Mill Street, after £10,000 was raised for the project. Businesswoman Cathy Morris, owner of Clarity's Hairdressers, joined forces with five other salons to generate cash for the venture. Cathy said: "I opened up the salon 25 years ago and I owe the success of it to all the people in the town so I wanted to give something back to the community. "I came up with the idea for an ice rink because it's something that all the family can enjoy and we have never had one in the town before. "I spoke to a couple of the local salons and they all agreed to help come up with ideas to raise the money. "Our target was £10,000, which is quite a lot of money, but we were determined to do it." The ice rink was finally opened by town mayor George Hayes on Friday. Fund-raising events included including hair and fashion shows and fish and chip supper evenings. Cathy added: "I was really emotional when I went to the opening on Friday because it was great seeing the children's faces light up when they were skating on the rink. "It was really overwhelming how much support we had for the project." Traders say they have already experienced an increase in spending. Pat Kelly, landlord of the Bull's Head, said: "We have had a a lot more business in the pub in the last few days which is fantastic. "When I heard about the project, I offered to have the ice rink in my car park because the land there is flat and there's plenty of parking space as well. "The rink has been busy every day since it opened and a lot of my customers are going outside to see it because it's so festive with food stalls and there's even a snow machine outside. "I think it's great there's something like this in Congleton. It makes the town special." Mother-of-one Jayne Kirby came to visit the ice rink with her seven-year-old daughter Olivia on Saturday. The 43-year-old, of Dale Crescent, Congleton, said: "I think it's lovely that the traders have got together to raise money for this project. "My daughter never been skating before but she absolutely loved it. It would be good if something like this was set up again next year." Daven Junior School pupil Olivia said: "I was really excited when my mum told me we had tickets for the ice rink. "I really enjoyed going skating with my friend Grace and my favourite part was when I went past the snow machine. It was so much fun."
Reported by This is 6 hours ago.