THE planned reopening of Oxford Ice Rink has been thrown into doubt by the latest package of social distancing measures.

Oxford City Council and leisure partner Fusion Lifestyle hopes to allow people to return to the Oxpens Road facility in late October, once maintenance work is over.

But this could be put on hold following the new set of coronavirus restrictions announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday.

From tomorrow, organised indoor sport or exercise classes can take place, but only if groups of more than six do not mix.

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A council spokesperson said: “We have been working with Fusion Lifestyle on plans to reopen the ice rink, some maintenance work is needed but together we have been aiming for late October.

"Following the government’s announcement yesterday on indoor sport restrictions we are urgently working with Fusion and sports’ governing bodies to understand what affect this will have on the plans.

"It’s too early to say whether the ice rink reopening will be affected, we will update residents as soon as we can.”

Linda Smith, the council's cabinet member for leisure and parks, empathised with those who had been unable to train at the rink.

She said: “This has hit youngsters with professional and Olympic ambitions really hard. The sooner we can get them back, the better.”