YOUNGSTERS from all over Rossendale will be given a chance to go ice skating for free during a four-day summer spectacular organised by the Valley's Russian ice dancers Alexei Kilitsyn and Natalia Pestova.

The international skaters, who organised a day out to Blackpool for more than 80 underprivileged children last year, have announced details of this year's Rossendale Children's Day.

They wanted to hold an event which would benefit as many children as possible so in addition to another trip to the coast, for deserving youngsters from the area, there will also be a specially built ice rink in Rawtenstall.

It will be built at Old Cobblers and will be open during the Bank Holiday weekend, August 24 to 27, from 10am to 10pm, with a free day on Sunday, August 26.

Alexei and Natalia, who moved to the Valley in 1995, will perform for the crowds on the Sunday morning and a barbecue is also being planned.

Natalia said: "There are so many people to thank that we can't possibly mention them all but we are grateful to Michael Walker of Walker Farrimond who has given a lot of his own time and resources to help us.

"I think that because Rossendale Children's Day is a local charity aimed at getting children to help other more needy children in the area, everyone has been really keen to get involved."

Alexei said: "It's been the same with the raffle prizes. People have been incredibly generous so we're hoping that everyone whoc can will buy at least one ticket. We really want to make this a weekend to remember and we can only do that with everyone's help."

Tickets for the raffle and Rossendale Children's Day t-shirts are on sale at all Rossendale Borough Council outlets, the Old Cobblers, Asda and Kay Street Tourist Information Office.