Decades-old ice at Bradford’s Ice Arena is being replaced in a major refurbishment project.

The rink will close following tomorrow evening’s session until December 15 to enable workers to cut and chip the 3in deep ice using a special machine and lay 14 rolls of piping, each weighing three-quarters of a tonne, for the new energy-saving refrigeration plant.

The unit which will operate the new plant will be re-sited from inside the arena and will be lifted into its new rooftop position by crane.

It is the first time the rink has been removed since it opened in the 1960s.

Assistant duty manager Chris Spencer said the contractors are scheduled to connect up the new system on Thursday, and by Friday they hope to replace the ice ready for reopening on December 15.

The privately-owned rink will close again from December 21 to 28 to allow the ice to be painted and marked out.

Mr Spencer said that thawing the ice rather than chipping it would take longer and would mean the water would have to be pumped out.

Once the pipework has been laid the process will begin to pump gallons of water back in to create the rink.

The glass panels and boards surrounding the rink and lighting rigs are also being replaced during the makeover, which is costing about £200,000.

The Carbon Trust, set up by the Government to develop commercial low-carbon technologies in the future, have loaned £115,000 towards the cost.