JANUARY and February's cold, wet weather has delayed gardening work to the Lower Gardens after the removal of the ice rink.

A large section of the gardens has been damaged a result of the temporary ice rink and alpine-style bar, which attracted tens of thousands of people to the area over the Christmas period.

THIS Event Co Ltd is responsible for delivering the attraction and paying for the grass to be returned to its usual state afterwards.

However, the work has been put off as a result of the poor weather, council officials say.

Andy McDonald, Bournemouth Borough Council’s head of parks, said: “The operators of the ice rink have asked the council's parks services to undertake the reinstatement works of the grassed areas in Lower Gardens, the cost of which will be met by the ice rink operator.

"The recent weather conditions we have been experiencing, both wet and cold, have meant we have not been able to enter the site to carry out our intended works programme, as to do so would cause considerably more damage to the grassed areas."

The rink was based at the former balloon site for the first time between mid-November 2017 and early January. Around 30,000 people visited the attraction in that time.

The rink featured a nursery rink for young families and an après skate café and bar.

Visitors were offered hour-long skating sessions and the venue was open every day over the festive period, excluding Christmas Day.

In November last year, the rink was granted formal planning consent for five years in its current format.

When it returns in 2018, it is likely to be even bigger, while temporary toilet facilities will be improved.

Mr McDonald said works to improve the look of the gardens will be carried out as soon as possible.

“Once the ground conditions improve a full re-instatement programme will be undertaken," he said.

"It is anticipated that there will be visual evidence of the grass recovering as temperatures rise and day length increases towards the end of March, with full coverage achieved for the forthcoming holiday season.”