BUDDING Torvil and Deans wasted no time in putting their skates on at a Bolton primary school.

The pupils of St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School, Heaton, left their desks to go for a skate . . . in the school hall.

Most made a brave attempt to stay upright on the slippery surface -- but many suffered a few untimely bumps as they attempted to slide with grace like the former Olympic stars.

Parents and teachers at the school organised the event as many children had never even been skating.

Some parents called for Bolton to bring back a Navada-style venue to keep children and teenagers off the streets.

Catherine Fay, from the Friends society at the school, said: "It's the third time that we have held the ice-skating. The kids love it and so far we've not had a single accident -- although sometimes our hearts are in our mouths."

The synthetic jigsaw ice rink was pieced together in the school hall of the Eastbourne Grove primary school this week. Pupils from as young as four were eager to test the "ice".

Dominic Barlow, aged nine, said: "It's great fun. I've not fallen over once yet -- although my friends have.

"It's the second time that I've done this. I've never been to real ice-skating so its good that it's come to the school."

Little Katy Fay also loved the skating although she admitted the man-made surface was a lot slower than ice.

Katy said: "Real ice is a lot faster which helps you keep your balance better. But this is still good -- especially for the really young ones." Cash rasied will go towards the school to buy much-needed equipment.