THE future of Altrincham Ice Rink looks bleak after its owners put the ageing building up for sale this week.

The popular facility needs expensive repair work carried out on it, which has prompted the owners to sell. The announcement confirmed many people's worst fears, following widespread rumours of its closure in recent months.

Trafford Council is hopeful that the building will be retained as an ice rink - but the site on Devonshire Road, Broadheath, will also be in demand for housing development.

A joint bid for lottery funding by Trafford Council and the rink owners to build a new rink in Altrincham failed four years ago.

The sale of the site could spell the end for Altrincham's ice hockey teams, as well as leaving ice skaters with nowhere to go.

Trafford Council leader David Acton said he was saddened by the news but said the council was limited in what it could do to prevent the sale going ahead.

He said: "There's a lot of concern in Altrincham and the surrounding areas because everyone, including myself, recognises what a sporting and social asset the ice rink is.

"A lot of people will be sad to see it go."

He said they were discussing the matter with the owners to see if there was any way of finding a new site for the rink. But he said there were no definite plans to replace the ice rink at the moment.

He said: "We would be prepared to work with them as much as we can if they want to develop a new site elsewhere.

"We would look at supporting bids for lottery grants or other funding if they did this."

A source involved with the Altrincham Aces ice hockey team, which is based at Altrincham Ice Rink, said: "If it shuts, the ice hockey teams will fold as well. The nearest other ice rink is in Blackburn.

"There won't be any future for the local teams. There's talk of a new one being built, but that could be years off."

The ice hockey teams have been running since the rink opened 40 years ago. The facility is also well used by speed skaters and dancers, and it is a popular leisure centre.

Ice dancing coach Joan Slater, who is a frequent user of the ice rink, said she hoped a replacement would be developed in the very near future.

She said: "It's something that everyone in the area will have used at some time in their lives. It's also incredibly busy - it will affect an awful lot of people if it closes. It's a crisis situation if it happens."