BURNHAM-on-Sea Events Social Team (BEST) has announced the return of the skating rink in the town after huge success last year.

The rink on Lynton Road car park will be open on December 17 as well as a family fun fair, Father Christmas, mulled wine, and hot chestnuts.

The festive ice skating rink is returning after more than 2,000 people used the rink last year and BEST members decided to fundraise and purchase a rink for use for many years to come.

Kathy Jones, chairman of BEST, said: “2016 has been a great year for us, we have held a number of very successful events, including Somerset Day, the August Bank Holiday fete, The Blitz at the Ritz and many other smaller fundraising events.

“They have been very well supported and we have been gaining members and ‘BEST friends’ throughout the year. We now have the opportunity to build on our success, and make the rink bigger and better year on year.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team for all their hard work and support; it has been a very enjoyable year.”

The non-profit group held a meeting to decide on the purchase and decided buying a rink would be more cost effective than hiring one every year.

The group hopes the attraction will be even bigger this year and hopes to bring extra trade into Burnham throughout the winter period.

Burnham and Highbridge Town Council gave BEST initial start-up funding for the project in 2015 and since then the team has gained a huge voluntary base who fundraise all year to fund the ice rink without the council’s funding.

Cllr, Peter Burridge-Clayton, vice-chairman of BEST, said: “I have been delighted to support BEST in any way I can, they are an inspiring team. They have achieved so much in such a short space of time. It is pleasing to see such a committed events team working so hard for the residents and trade of Burnham and Highbridge”

For more information about the skate rink and other BEST events visit www.facebook.com/burnhambest.