SOME of York's smaller residents took advantage of an icy trip down the River Ouse as plunging temperatures froze the city's main river.

For the first time in 21 years, substantial blocks of ice have been forming on the river as temperatures in the region continue to stay below freezing point.

The Foss has been frozen for three days now, as winter attacks North Yorkshire.

Forecasters predict that the temperature is not expected to get above freezing until the weekend. The west of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and western Scotland should become increasingly mild, but the east will remain frosty.

"It is very cold at the moment," said a forecaster at the PA Weather Centre.

"The temperature was -10.9C in Linton-on-Ouse, our nearest weather station to York. It's not going to be as cold tonight, but it will probably be -3C or -4C.

"There will be a cold south-easterly wind over the next few days so it will feel just as cold.

"Things are not looking like warming up until the weekend.

"If the river is frozen now, it is not likely to melt in the near future as the temperature will not get above freezing for long enough.

"People will need to keep wrapped up for the next few days." The cut at Naburn Lock is frozen over, although the lock itself is still operational, said a spokesman for the British Waterways Board.

Police have issued a stiff warning for people to keep off any ice that forms on rivers in the county.

A spokesman warned that serious injury or death could result in trying to cross rivers or play on the ice.

Small parts of the Ouse froze in 1991, but the last time such floes were seen was 1980. The winter also hit hard in 1962, 1958 and 1948. The Foss has frozen regularly over the years.

The bar walls were shut in York today because of ice which made them too dangerous for pedestrians, said a City of York Council spokesman.

Firefighters were called out when a swan got stuck in ice on Selby Canal.

The stranded swan was finally set free when the firefighters connected several chimney rods and smashed some of the ice surrounding the bird.

The fire service was alerted after several members of the public walked into the fire station - which is in Canal Road - to report the swan's plight.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The swan managed to dislodge itself and then walked calmly over the ice to safety."

Updated: 14:22 Wednesday, January 02, 2002