Plans to bring the Ice Rink and Christmas Market back to Gloucester for at least the next five years have been revealed.

Gloucester Quays wants permission to build the festive attraction in the city from October 28 to January 18 each year until 2029.

It estimates it will attract 30,000 skaters annually.

It has applied to Gloucester City Council for permission to use land at Orchard Square in Llanthony Road, High Orchard Street, Merchants Road, Victoria Dock and Mariners Square for the siting of an ice rink, Christmas market and associated development and temporary buildings.

Since 2016 the Quays has been running the the event under a series of temporary permissions, the latest of which has now expired.

It now wants permission for a 450 sqm covered ice rink with the ancillary buildings, plant, and observation areas totalling 300 sqm.

The temporary small-scale cabins, stalls and marquee structures would be the same as in previous years.

A statement by Alder King Planning Consultants on behalf of the applicants said: "It is considered that the ice rink and market has reached its optimum size and extent and as such there are unlikely to be any significant variations year on year.

"Therefore, unlike the 2019 planning permission, any future variations would be sought by exception rather than then requirement to submit a layout every year pursuant to a planning condition. We hope this would maintain a degree of flexibility but reduce unnecessary submissions to the council, to the benefit of all parties."

It said operation dates would vary marginally from year to year but the dates applied for would allow the event to run from approximately November 14 to January 5 each year.

The rink would operate one hour skate sessions with a maximum capacity of 150 people on the ice at a time.

The Christmas Market will be formed by up to 36 cabins, 25 marquees, 74 stalls and a number of food and beverage pitches .

It would be focused on Mariners Square and Victoria Dock and run weekends only from November 14 until December 7, with site set up commencing no earlier than October 28 and derig being completed by December 13.

The council is expected to determine the application by October 12.