THERE certainly wasn't a frosty reception for the cast of Disney On Ice's Toy Story at the Manchester Evening News Arena.

The spectacular show, costing £8 million, was a magical treat and although Disney On Ice might seem like a strange concept, it actually worked fantastically well.

The computer-animated world of the film was brought brilliantly to life as the talented skaters, playing Buzz, Woody and all the toy gang, set the ice glowing with their spins, dashes and twirls.

And the magic world of the film was enhanced on ice by breathtaking choreography, amazing costumes and brilliant light effects.

And, most spectacularly, the ice was turned into a midnight-blue starry universe for the poignant scene where Buzz realised he was a toy and not a real space ranger.

But the children -- and their enchanted parents and grandparents -- were wowed most by the costumes. The characters looked as though they had walked straight from the cinema screen and onto the ice.

A whole battalion of green plastic soldiers marched their way across the rink and a spaceshipful of little green aliens danced ecstatically as they awaited the movement of The Claw.

The highlight of the show was the lighting of the rocket which sent a suspended Buzz and Woody zooming high over the ice followed by a trail of fireburst as though from a giant sparkler. Absolute magic.