ONE of Cambridge s most popular outdoor events, Cambridge on Ice has added a host of new attractions to last year s massively popular outdoor ice rink on Parker s Piece. Not only is the ice rink, which last year attracted more than 40,000 skaters, bigger,

ONE of Cambridge's most popular outdoor events, Cambridge on Ice has added a host of new attractions to last year's massively popular outdoor ice rink on Parker's Piece.

Not only is the ice rink, which last year attracted more than 40,000 skaters, bigger, but the organisers have added an extra week to the schedule. The ice rink will run for seven weeks, from November 15 through till January 14 2009, pausing only on Christmas Day.

There will be separate sessions for mums and toddlers together with sessions for silver skaters, those over 50 years, who want a more leisurely skate.

The box office is open now and advance bookings are already being taken. Many weekend and evening sessions sold out last year, so the advice from the organisers is to book early to avoid disappointment.

Cambridge on Ice has confirmed that this year, for the first time the ice rink will have its own German market which will run from December 12 till 28.

Market traders from Germany have accepted an invitation to bring a traditional continental Christmas market to Parker's Piece. More than 20 German stallholders will be selling Christmas decorations along with festive foods.

The Christmas market theme will continue inside the Ice Café where two traditional alpine log cabins will be offering winter warming authentic continental food and drink.

The organisers have also announced that this year, skaters will be able to purchase 'e-tickets', in similar fashion to booking airline or concert tickets.

Once skaters have selected their preferred session at www.cambridgeonice.co.uk and paid, the organisers will send an email containing a link which can then be printed out as a ticket.

Alternatively, if skaters prefer, they can just turn up at the on-site booking office, which will open on Friday, November 14.

Lizzy Dickinson, of Cambridge on Ice, said: "We are pulling out all the stops to make this year's ice skating extravaganza especially memorable. Not only have we made booking tickets as easy as possible, but we are delighted to be introducing Cambridge's first Christmas market.

"These markets are hugely popular tourist attractions and are the perfect way for shoppers and skaters to pick up some really unusual decorations and sample some really tasty authentic food and drink.