A SPECTACULAR dancing on ice show is being held in Oxford as part of a campaign to save the city's rink from closure.

The Oxford Ice Rink Summer Gala takes place from Friday, June 22, to Sunday, June 24, and will give a showcase to skaters who could be the next Torvill and Dean.

Organisers hope the event will raise the profile of the ice rink, in Oxpens Road, as Oxford City Council has said the future of the venue is limited.

In a draft planning blueprint for the West End redevelopment, it says the rink would need complete redevelopment to bring it up to modern standards and it cannot provide the money required. It says a study should be carried out to establish the best site for a replacement ice rink, possibly near the ring road.

A petition to keep the existing ice rink has been signed by more than 1,000 people.

Fran Davis, chairman of the Oxford Figure and Free Ice Skating Club, said she hoped the public would support the gala and get behind them in their campaign to keep the rink open.

She said closure of the rink would be a "huge loss" for hundreds of skaters.

"Our club has 50 members and a waiting list and I know that the classes the council runs here are full and have got a waiting list for the next couple of years.

"It's easily accessible to people - being on a bus and rail route, children can get here on their own."

Rehearsals for the gala have been going on for the past month, with elaborate sequences including the Flight of the Bumblebee, performed by the Little Bumble Bees. There is even a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang number featuring a car.

A total of 120 skaters, all members of both Oxford Figure and Free Ice Skating Club and Oxford Ice Dance Club, are taking part with scores of routines on the theme of flight.

Mrs Davis said: "It's going to be a brilliant show."

A performance for schools takes place on the Friday and the gala is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. The show runs from 5.30pm to 7pm and tickets cost £2 for children and £4 for adults.