Ice skaters and hockey players will be out in force at a Norwich park tomorrow to gather more support for their campaign to get a new rink installed in the city.

The sudden closure of Planet Ice, in Drayton High Road, the city's only rink, in June devastated groups using the venue and means skaters and hockey players are now forced to travel to Peterborough or Chelmsford.

Campaigners fighting to get a new rink installed in the city have since formed a steering group. SOS Norwich Ice Rink, which is looking to generate support for the idea.

Last month a group of 20 ice hockey players and skaters, many of them wearing figure skating dresses and ice hockey kits, held a picnic in Chapelfield Gardens before collecting more than 500 signatures of support.

Campaigners will be looking for similar phenomenal backing when they return to the city park tomorrow to collect more signatures.

Event organiser, Coralie Steadman, 16, said: 'After having so much success at our first picnic petition, managing to collect around 500 signatures in only two hours, we thought it would be great to get together again and try and get even more signatures and even more skaters participating.

'Everyone had such a great time, so we're all really looking forward to getting together and getting our skating outfits on again.'

As previously supported the group, which has a Facebook page SOS Norwich Ice Rink, is also appealing to building or landowners who might have suitable sites available for a rink in the city.

If you have got land or a building to offer email maguirelm@googlemail.com

Have you got a story for the Evening News? Call Peter Walsh on 01603 7772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk