ICE-SKATING injuries on Hampshire's two temporary rinks have mostly consisted of bumps and bruises, with the occasional wrist injury.

Accident and Emergency doctors at Southampton and Winchester hospitals said there had not been any substantial increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital because of the ice rinks.

The ice rink at Winchester Cathedral, which closed on Sunday, saw 30,000 tickets sold during its five week opening.

At the temporary ice rink in Southampton's Guildhall Square, which will remain open until January 21, thousands of skaters have taken to the ice.

John Heyworth, senior consultant in the Emergency Department at Southampton General Hospital, said: "The ice rinks have not had a major impact on the department.

"Since they opened, we have dealt with around ten to 12 patients, most of them children who have suffered wrist injuries. Overall, the pleasure seems to outweigh the pain."

A spokesman for the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester said: "We have had a very busy December with some extra patients coming to us with bumps and bruises having fallen on the ice rink at the cathedral."

But despite the bumps and bruises both ice rinks have proved resounding successes, with Winchester already promising they will bring the rink back next year..