Get your skates on for next year!

After record numbers of Londoners enjoyed the Somerset House ice rink over Christmas and the new year the organisers have announced that the event will become an annual fixture.

More than 75,000 skaters used the Evening Standard-sponsored rink in the courtyard of Somerset House. The figures - which represent more than a two-fold increase on last year - prompted the trustees to pledge that the ice will definitely be back. "We are delighted with how it went this year," said project organiser Jenny Waldman. "We feel it's made a real impact on London and it would be lovely to make it an annual treat for Londoners. We're always looking to make improvements.

"We'll have a good think to see what we can do to make it even better in time for next year." This was only the second year of the Somerset House Great Courtyard ice rink project. The skating surface was much bigger than last time - about half the size of a football pitch - and capable of accommodating 2,000 people per day. A 40ft Swedish spruce provided an additional yuletide motif.

Some 1,000 children and members of community groups took to the ice for free as part of a scheme funded by John Lyon's Charity. The rink, which closed on Sunday, was also sponsored by the Wallpaper* group. For non-skaters there were special viewing areas and a cafe.

Keeping the conditions for skaters as close to perfection as possible was a technological feat. The ice had to be protected against the rain, which could potentially have turned the surface into slush.

The ice was cooled by an antifreeze called Glycol, which was piped through rubber tubes beneath the rink and super-cooled to at least - 12C. Purified water was then sprayed over the tubes using an industrial hose and allowed to freeze in layers one millimetre thick at a time, before the next layer could begin.

The finished ice was 11cm thick, making the total weight of ice involved roughly 70 tonnes. A fresh layer was put down after close of business each night, repairing the damage wrought by 4,000 blades.