One Call has been announced as the main sponsor of Christmas activities in Mansfield this year.

The insurance group, which also sponsors Mansfield Town Football Club, is the council’s platinum sponsor.

Platinum, gold, silver and bronze sponsorship packages were available, ranging from £5,000 to £500, to help support the council in bringing an ice rink, Christmas Market and Christmas Lights switch-on event to Mansfield town centre.

There will also be a month-long Christmas Market on West Gate, organised by Mansfield BID with financial support from the council.

The Switch On event is organised and funded by the council with support from Mansfield 103.2 and Four Seasons Shopping Centre. This year’s Christmas tree has also been sponsored by the Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 business community.

Other major sponsors of Christmas in Mansfield include: Inplace Personnel, Mansfield Building Society, Linney, REAL Education, Hopkins Solicitors, Ambitions Personnel, Vertu Honda and McDonalds, i-Jump, and Acorn Signs.

Cllr Dave Saunders, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration, said: “Our business community has shown tremendous support for helping to bring a very special Christmas to Mansfield, which features, for the first time in this town, an outdoor ice rink.

“We are confident that together with our Big Switch On event and the month-long Christmas Market, we have everything here to deliver the perfect festive season.”

There are still a small number of bronze deals available for £500.

Benefits include a banner at the ice rink, family skate pass, and VIP standing passes to the Big Switch On event on 18th November. Businesses interested can find all the details on the council’s website at www.mansfield.gov.uk/christmas

The council is also launching corporate ice rink hire deals in which businesses who are not necessarily sponsors will be able to hire the rink for exclusive use for an hour on Tuesday evenings, at 6pm or 7pm, and other off-peaks times.

Anyone interested should visit www.mansfieldicerink.co.uk to find out more or email [email protected]

The ice rink will open to the public on Friday, 30th November when there will be a launch event with an ice show put together by Mansfield skater Corey Spencer, this year’s British adult free skate champion.

The rink, funded by the council, will remain in place in front of the Old Town Hall in Market Place until Monday, 31st December.