CROWDS gathered as the re-opening of a town's ice rink proved to be a success.

Planet Ice re-opened its ice rink in Blackburn at midday on Saturday and hundreds of people turned up to try it out.

The 2,600-seater stadium had been closed for several weeks while workers removed the ice pad, replaced roughly six kilometres of piping and removed a hump found near the centre of the rink.

A new trench was dug on the east side of the Lower Audley Street rink to help with underfloor cooling and heating systems.

The re-opening saw families attend and become the first to try out the new ice rink and make history.

Deputy general manager Dyan Charnock hailed the re-opening as fantastic.

She said: "We've looked forward to this for a long time.

"We had quite few people come down and try out the ice rink.

"There were a few hundred people at least.

"It's great to open and the atmosphere was great.

"Quite a few people said they had been waiting to try this for a long time.

"There's nothing else like this in Blackburn."

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph last month, Mark Halliwell, general manager said: “I’m really pleased all the hard work is beginning to show.

“We are really excited to get the rink back open for the Hawks and the public to enjoy once again.”

And the ice rink is set to host a further grand re-opening day on Saturday (August 24).

It will see the centre run some taster sessions on the ice for the skate excellence lessons that people can join in with at no extra charge between 10.15am and 11am.

There will also be information stands out for anyone interested in learning to skate, which will be for six-week courses or intense three/five day learn to skate courses.

Information will also be available on learning to play hockey, on coming to watch the Hawks games, and on stalls where people can sign up for the centre's ice cards.