It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - but not as we've known it.
With shops now stocking festive food, wrapping paper and tacky decorations there's little doubt that the festive season is rapidly approaching, although it's bound to look a little different this time around.
In previous years many of us have been eager to strap on skates and show off our graceful ice skating skills - others have had to settle with lots of falling over.
These are the ice rinks, both temporary and permanent that have been in Dorset and beyond over the years. Some may even be back in the future!
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Bournemouth Lower Gardens
First entertaining the town in 2012, this outdoor ice rink will not be open this year.
Plans are in place for the temporary rink to come back in 2021.
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Purbeck Hall, BIC
Bournemouth International Centre hosted an indoor ice rink, transforming the usually formal Purbeck Hall into a sparkling winter wonderland.
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Westover Ice Rink
The Westover Ice Rink was a favourite destination in the town for 60 years.
The permanent ice rink - where Olympic gold medallist John Curry made his professional debut in 1976 - was built in 1930.
But times and leisure habits changed, and in 1991 the rink closed.
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Ice Trax, Poole
This much-loved ice rink at Tower Park, Poole was replaced by Gala Bingo in the mid 1990s.
It is still missed by people who remember the two tier track, island in the middle and outside rink strip.
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Sandy Balls
Sandy Balls Holiday Village put up a temporary rink for the winter.
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The Ark, Poole
The permanent ice rink at The Ark in Poole Park was closed in June 2019.
Despite nearly 900 people signing a petition against the closure, an arts and crafts offering replaced the facility.
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Saxon Square, Christchurch
Saxon Square in Christchurch was once host to this temporary ice rink.
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Summerbee Junior School
In 1999 these children from Summerbee Junior School were treated to a temporary ice rink within the comfort of their own school hall.
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Greig Howe's front garden
In 2009 Greig Howe had a 35ft tall Christmas tree sticking out of his roof.
But the following year he branched out by creating his own 24m by 10m ice rink across his and a neighbour’s front gardens.
The rink was packed with people and raised money for the RNLI.
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