ICE rinks closed due to the coronavirus outbreak will reopen next month after much confusion about the advice.

New measures to further ease lockdown were announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday morning, confirming that ice rinks - including Planet Ice in Blackburn - will be allowed to open from August 1.

Yesterday, the company based at Blackburn Ice Arena confirmed it was reopening on July 25, before the Government swiftly removed ice rinks from its list of businesses allowed to reopen yesterday, leaving staff and customer confused and upset.

Today, however, it announced the new date.

A Planet Ice spokesperson said: "Following on from yesterday’s disappointing news that ice rinks could not open on the July 25, we are today delighted to announce all Planet Ice rinks will open on August 1 as confirmed in the Prime Minister's speech this morning.

"We will operate all of our products including public skating, private hire, patch, and learn-to-skate.

"On the call with the Department for Culture Media and Sport it was confirmed that the government had approved all of the relevant documentation to allow all sessions to take place in a Covid-secure environment."

The company confirmed that customers who paid for sessions the week commencing July 25 will be emailed a new date and time next week.

It said demand public skating and exclusive hire is extremely high due to the restricted numbers of people it is allowed to be deemed Covid-secure and urged customers to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

As well as Planet Ice, most remaining leisure centres in the town will be allowed to reopen, with indoor performances with live audiences resuming in two weeks time.

Trials of larger gatherings in places like sports stadiums will also begin.

Mr Johnson said he hoped for a "more significant return to normality" later this year.