WE had some friends visiting from Oxfordshire last weekend including two children aged six and nine.

On Saturday morning we began the bruising process of trying to agree on an itinerary for the day.

We'd visited the railway museum on their last visit, plundered the depths of Jorvik and deemed the dungeon a bit too scary. Visiting museums and art galleries was ruled out as "too boring" by the nine year old.

Then I remembered that York had an ice rink.

The outdoor rink has been built around the tree at the Eye of York and is open from 10am-10.15pm every day (bar Christmas Day) until January 8.

Brought to the city by The Ice Factor it also boasts a marquee caf, which is licensed from noon.

Our young visitors had been ice skating once before at Oxford's indoor rink and were keen to have another go.

When we arrived, just after lunch time, there were plenty of people skating. Young and old, experienced and novice, were on the ice, which looked especially slippery after a recent downpour.

Undeterred, my husband joined our friends for a skating session, while I stood on the raised platform round the edge with my three year old to spectate.

Sessions run for an hour and cost £7.50 per adult or £5.50 for a child under 12. A family package for four costs £21.50 with concessions at £6.50. Tickets are available on the door.

Admission includes skate hire and the smallest size boots are a size nine, so probably too big for a four year old.

There were some small children on the ice, being carefully guided round by an adult. One mum and daughter combo looked as inexperienced as each other and were more akin to Bambi and Thumper on ice than Torvill and Dean. But they were laughing, and that has to be the spirit.

Our six-year-old friend showed natural ability on the ice and we decided it had helped that she was an accomplished rollerblader.

After half an hour of watching our skaters stumble, lurch and fall our amusement at the slapstick show waned and my daughter and I took refuge in the caf.

Run by Milburns, it is in a large tent with clear windows affording viewing on to the rink.

The menu features home made soup, roll and butter (£2.30); jacket potatoes and fillings from £2.95; cakes and pastries from £1.55; sandwiches from £1.60-£2.50; kids; lunch boxes £3.50; hot drinks from £1.25-£1.60. Mulled wine is available for £2.50 or £3.25 with a warmed mince pie.

For more details, visit www.theicefactor.co.uk

Updated: 16:28 Friday, December 09, 2005