THE millionaire’s playground of Sandbanks turned into a winter wonderland as sea water surrounding the peninsula iced over in the big freeze.

Parts of Poole Harbour in Dorset turned into a skating rink after overnight temperatures dipped to -7C.

The thin layer of ice spanned from the shoreline to about 450 yards out into the world’s second largest natural harbour.

Walkers decided to make the most of the unusual weather event by taking a stroll on the ice.

Meanwhile small boats moored up were embedded in the ice.

A cross-Channel ferry tore through the ice packs as it headed out of the harbour and its movement caused chunks of the frozen sea surface to break up.

Parts of the harbour at Mudeford near Christchurch were also covered in ice and the temperature was recorded by one local resident at 8am on Saturday as -8C.

It is extremely rare for the sea in the UK to freeze over but marine scientists say Poole Harbour is susceptible to it because of the low salt content in its water.

Sea water also needs a prolonged and sustained period of sub-zero temperatures in order to freeze.

The weather phenomena also put paid to members of local yacht clubs taking to the sea today.

Colin Francis, a member of the North Haven Yacht Club, said: “I was going to move my catamaran this morning but when I got here it was surrounded by ice.

“It is the same for all the boats here.

“I haven’t seen the harbour freeze like this for about 20 or 30 years.”

Dorset escaped the type of conditions that hit much of the rest of the UK, with heavy snow affecting people all across the country.