YOUNGSTERS had the chance to experience the thrills and spills of ice skating last night for just the price of an Evening Advertiser.

A synthetic plastic surface was put in place outside the Debenhams store in the town centre for the event, sponsored by the Adver. And crowds of youngsters flocked to join in the fun, many of them clutching vouchers from the newspaper that allowed them a free 20-minute session on the rink.

There to provide a helping hand was Great Britain skating pairs champion Andrew Seabrook.

"This is a great surface to introduce youngsters to skating. It is actually a little bit more difficult to skate on that on ice, but it is great fun," he said.

Keen to give it a whirl were experienced skater Gemma Stowe, 10, who has been learning how to skate at the Link Centre for four years, and her five-year-old brother Sean, who said: "It is a bit slippery." But added proudly: "I haven't fallen over yet though.".

Others included a group of pals from Commonweal School who were willing to throw themselves into the event.

Lewis Jackson, 13, said: "I heard that it was on from my Nan so I thought it would be fun to come down and meet my friends. I have tried skating before at the Link Centre but I have not done it that often."

His friend Naomi Miles, 13, said: "I heard about it and managed to get my friends to come along."

They agreed that it was more difficult to get to grips with than skating on ice, but great fun. The skating event coincided with Shopmobility's annual Christmas outing where 170 folk who have difficulty getting about had the chance to get around the shops thanks to the help of volunteers from local schools and the Army and Sea Cadets, who helped them around the town.

Zurich Financial and TK Maxx backed the event by providing refreshments for all participants.

And to add to the festive spirit, a choir from the K School of Music from Old Town sang Christmas carols while staff from the Brunel Centre's Arcade handed out sherry and mince pies to shoppers.

Future festive events include the town centre Christmas light switch-on next Thursday by children's television stalwarts Rod, Jane and Freddy from the TV show Rainbow, who are set to appear in the Wyvern Theatre's pantomime, Cinderella.

And Swindon's annual Christmas Carnival event hits the streets of Swindon town centre on Sunday, November 25, in a blaze of colour, noise and good humour. The event is in its fifth year and has been sponsored for the second time by the Brunel Centre.

The procession kicks off at 10.30am from Regent Circus and will weave through the town to the crossroads by BHS and then onto Canal Walk towards House Of Fraser.

The entertainment will carry on throughout the day until 3pm to help Christmas shoppers enjoy their day out in Swindon.