Walking in a winter wonderland

TEMPERATURES are below zero and the city's suburban pavements are like ice rinks. But Chester's skating fraternity have not yet had to sharpen their blades to get out on the River Dee for a swift race from Eccleston down to the weir.

Ducks have been seen grappling to keep their footing on blocks of ice floating down the river but temperatures haven't quite dropped to levels observed in the 1960s.

Back in 1963, the river completely froze over and Cestrians were out and about walking on water and The Chronicle has unearthed some photographs of this frosty phenomenon.

In one, a couple are larking about just below the Queen's Park suspension bridge and in another, an onlooker takes a risk as he tries to snap a flock of swans swimming up a small channel of water.

In 2004, The Chronicle was sent a photograph taken in 1963 by Mr E H Roberts of Hoole. The colour slide shows Mr Roberts' late wife Flo in the foreground and in the background a couple of nuns crossing the frozen expanse.

Do you have any memories or photographs of the River Dee when it froze over? If so, email jo.henwood@cheshirenews.co,uk