ICE arena bosses have hit out at criticism from parents in the wake of their decision to charge £1.20 to non-skaters.

Parents have slammed officials at Blackburn Ice Arena, off Lower Audley Street, for their policy of charging them just to drop off their children.

And now that angry mothers are getting a petition together to get the charge dropped, ice arena chiefs have made their position clear. They claim it is not new policy and the charge has always applied.

A spokesman said: "If we did not have a charging policy we would simply create a chaotic and unmanageable situation with people going in and out of the building as they felt fit.

"It would become a free-for-all and put us at great risk of contravening health and safety legislation and our premises' license.

"Once someone enters our building, which is a multi-use facility, then we are responsible for providing a facility which meets the standard of being fit for its purpose. We already provide free car parking, but we cannot allow free access too.

"Non-skaters make use of our facilities - a clean and tidy building, car parking, public liability insurance, toilet facilities - and for that there has to be a cost, which is simply a contribution to our ever-increasing operating costs.

"As with all entertainment and leisure venues there is a price for entry.

"Over the years we have not always enforced the charge, but because of many factors including confusion at reception with people coming and going, general abuse of receptionists and the smoking ban legislation, we have tightened up to make the charge applicable at all times."