PARENTS have slammed Blackburn Ice Arena for charging them to pick up their own children.

Bosses at the popular venue are now demanding that mums and dads pay the £1.25 fee just to collect their children after lessons.

They insist that the admission charge is to cover maintenance costs and pay for public liability insurance.

One parent, Lisa Crawson, said she would have to pull her seven-year-old daughter Abby out of figure skating classes because the charge is making the hobby too expensive.

Mum-of-four Mrs Crawson, of Wordsworth Road, Accrington, said: "I already pay a £4.50 entrance fee plus £7 for her lesson and £1.50 for skate hire.

"I have other children to look after so I just drop Abby off but paying £2.50 every time she goes to the rink makes it far too expensive."

Bosses at the arena insist the fee has always been in place but not always enforced.

Mrs Crawson added: "Abby goes twice a week and my son Aiden plays with the Hawks ice hockey team."

A spokesman for the arena, off Lower Audley, said the "non-skating admission" charge was essential to ensure that the arena was viable.

He added: "If anyone wants to complain they can write to the managing director at the Ice Arena."