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York hosts UK's largest ice trail for Christmas Festival

News imageVisit York Moonface on Kings Square was paid for by York Premier InnVisit York
Local businesses have paid for the sculptures

The UK's biggest ice trail has been held in York as part of the city's Christmas Festival.

Forty-five ice sculptures, using more than 10 tonnes of ice, included a 2m-high Viking, and the Night King from Game of Thrones.

The freezing temperatures over the weekend in York meant the sculptures did not melt.

The designs, sponsored by local businesses, featured Stephenson's Rocket, a Minion and Peter Rabbit.

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York's ice sculptures were removed at the end of the weekend
News imageVisit York The two metre-high Mighty Viking was sculpted in studios before being transported to Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate in York city centreVisit York
The 2m-high Mighty Viking was sculpted in studios before being transported to Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate in York city centre
News imageVisit York Stephenson's Rocket ice sculptureVisit York
Stephenson's Rocket - sponsored by the National Railway Museum - was created in the Glacial Art studio before being transported to York city centre
News imageVisit York Dragon ice sculptureVisit York
Siggy the Mansion House Dragon was at St Helens Square
News imageVisit York Swan ice sculptureVisit York
Visit York launched the ice trail across the city in 2015 and said it planned to hold one every year
News imageVisit York Bradley's Jewellers on Low Petergate sponsored a diamond ringVisit York
Bradley's Jewellers on Low Petergate sponsored a sculpture of a huge diamond ring

A Lego Batman was on display on Walmgate, Garfield on Low Petergate, the Virgin Mary at Minster Piazza, and a replica of the Tornado steam engine on Spurriergate.

Tourist body Visit York said the ice trail would be removed before the sculptures melt, but it plans to hold a new one each year.

Mat Foster, of Glacial Art, which creates the sculptures using chainsaws and chisels, said it was "without doubt" the biggest project the company had ever undertaken.

News imageVisit York Moonface ice sculptureVisit York
Moonface on Kings Square was paid for by York Premier Inn