SOUTHAMPTON ski centre bosses are celebrating after reopening in time for the peak season - just two months after part of the site was destroyed in a massive arson attack.

A demonstration of skiing and snowboarding techniques by instructors was just one of the ways that councillors and staff marked the official opening of the rebuilt slope at Bassett's Southampton Sports Centre.

A new piece of equipment has also been introduced in the form of rubber rings, known as ringos, which you can use to slide down the dry slope.

Daredevil city councillors decided to try them out for themselves.

Derek Burke, Cabinet member for leisure and tourism, said: "We agreed to go down the slope as part of the reopening to show local people how much fun it can be.

"It's quite steep so you got on half way down and you can get to quite a speed.

"I am really pleased to see the centre reopened in time for the busy season. I was very disappointed that a local facility could be put out of action by a group of mindless vandals."

Tory group leader Alec Samuels and deputy Liberal Democrat leader Peter Wakeford also celebrated the reopening of the Alpine Centre, which was forced to close in August after a £100,000 fire in which part of the bottom of the slope, safety barriers and the walkway were destroyed.

Steve Filary, managing director of Filarinskis, who operate the site, said: "I am delighted to have the centre back up and running in time for the busiest season of the year. We were determined to keep this excellent facility going and have been keeping our customers updated on progress. We are now taking bookings for our ski and snowboarding sessions, and we are proud to introduce our new ringos."

Six youths, who were caught on CCTV cameras at the site shortly before the blaze broke out, were arrested and quizzed by police. All of them, who are aged between 13 and 17, have been released on police bail pending further investigations.