PA MediaCane skaters have been taking full advantage of the recent cold snap by taking to the ice after flooded fields in the Fens froze.
Hundreds of people gathered at Upware, near Wicken, Cambridgeshire, at the weekend.
Fan skating occurs when the meadow is flooded and then frozen, meaning there is very little ice – unlike frozen lakes or rivers.
David Smith, 57, who helps organize the event, said: “From children as young as eight to people over 80, there are so many enjoying a day’s skating. It’s great to see people.”
PA MediaMr Smith said Sunday was a particularly busy day and he believed there were “at least 1,000 people on the ice” when he arrived at 09:30 GMT.
He is part of the Fan Centre, the Organizing Committee of Fan Racing and a sub-committee of British Ice Skating.
Mr Smith, from Sutton, said the skaters “came from a 100 mile (160 km) radius, some from London.
“I met the Bedford people – the opportunity to skate on the fence is a real magnet.”
PA MediaRoger Giles, 87, from Welney, Norfolk, who helped organize fan skating for decades, said: “You need to be at least 2 inches to 4 inches (6 cm to 10 cm) tall to skate. cm) of ice is required.”
But he predicted that icy conditions are “almost over”.
Competitive skating began in the Fens in 1879, and since then speed skaters have competed for world or Fenland titles whenever a Fen is frozen long enough to allow a championship to be held.
“It’s great to see so many people come out and enjoy the things I’ve been doing for 45 years,” Mr Smith said.
“The snow came and it was perfect because it was on Saturday and Sunday, when people were off work and kids weren’t in school.”
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