RUSSIAN ice skaters who are organising a four-day charity spectacular in Rawtenstall will be nipping off to appear on stage in Blackpool!

The fun begins on Friday and continues until Bank Holiday Monday and, apart from Sunday, the Russians will be racing over to Blackpool each day to skate in the ice show

Alexei Kislitsyn and Natalia Pestova made the Valley their home 6 years ago and last year the pair took 80 children to Blackpool for the day.

The trip was voted a resounding success and Alexei and Natalia vowed that the event would become a regular date in the Rossendale's calendar promising even bigger and better things to come.

They have spent a whole year planning Rossendale Children's Day which will be held at The Old Cobblers in Rawtenstall.

An ice rink will be open from 10am to 10pm each day, with free ice skating for all children on Sunday.

On Friday and Monday, Alexei and Natalia will be holding free master classes between the hours of 10am and noon and on Sunday they will perform a special ice show at 11am.

There will also be a barbecue and a host of attractions and entertainments.

On Saturday a group of deserving children will also visit Blackpool where they will skate with Alexei and Natalia, enjoy free rides on the Pleasure Beach and see the couple perform in the Hot Ice Show.

Besides appearing in Hong Kong over the Christmas period and performing in Blackpool's Hot Ice Show since May, Alexei and Natalia have spent every spare moment working on their Rossendale Children's Day project.

Alexia said: "We've always wanted to help children nand the people of Rossendale have made us so very welcome here, we felt that we could raise money for children's charities, and at the same time, do something for the local community." Rossendale Children's Day is a registered charity which aims to raise money for deserving children's causes in the Valley.

Natalia said: "It wouldn't be possible without the generosity of other people and organisations.

"Everyone has been fantastic in supporting us."