ICY weather is snow joke for Bolton town centre's Christmas snow slide.

For when the temperatures drop the fun has to stop -- frost makes sliding down the slope too dangerous!

Despite its name the snow slope is not actually made of snow but a special fabric.

In rain or frost it becomes ultra slippery and thrill seekers would find themselves reaching dangerously high speeds.

For part of yesterday people wanting to take a ride down the slope, which has proved a hit with Christmas shoppers, were faced instead with signs saying: "Closed due to adverse weather conditions!"

Rob Dyson, Bolton Town Centre Company's health and safety officer, confirmed that the slope was closed for a time while slope staff waited for it to thaw out.

He said: "The frost increases the slide to a speed which is too fast. It can be run but we can't take a risk. We are being over cautious, but we would rather that than risk an injury."

The slope is tested three times a day to ensure it is safe for the public to use it.

And the task of assessing safety falls to 15 stone Mr Dyson, who uses the highly technical method of trying out the run for himself.

"I am one of the heaviest people around so if I can do it safely then it should be alright," he said.

But he says he never tires of the task. "It is great fun," he said.

Weather permitting the giant snowslide is open from 10am to 7pm every day throughout the Christmas period.