Ayr Ice Rink is to close its doors later this year after owners blamed an "unprecedented hike in energy costs" for the hammer blow.
Announcing their decision tonight, Ayr Curling Club said they were faced with a rates rise of 110 per cent at the start of October - taking the average cost of daily electricity from £419 to £880. This, they said, signalled the nail in the coffin for attempts to save ice sports in the town, with curlers insisting they have already plunged £153,000 into energy costs this year alone.
Scores of member clubs and hundreds of young ice skaters who use the rink are now set to be left homeless following the devastating news.
