THE temporary transformation of an old railway station into an ice rink was a success.

Despite the storms, almost 3,000 people visited Richmond Station at the weekend to skate and see inside the building for the first time in years.

The event was organised by Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, which wants to convert the station into a centre for leisure and business.

"We have had a brilliant response and are so pleased to see such a wide age range of the population coming back into their station," said trust chairman Jim Jack.

"More than 70 volunteers and local trades people worked very hard over the Christmas break to make the event possible."

Many families took the opportunity to skate together, other people went along to remember times when the station was fully operational.

The event raised cash towards the station conversion project.