AN ice slide could be just the ticket for many of us given seven weeks of unbroken heat.

However the return of last year’s Christmas attraction in Castle Park is unlikely, despite its success last year.

Colchester Council bosses say Demon Xtreme’s attraction, which made its debut last Christmas, went down well with families.

It was a joint venture between the authority and the extreme sports company, based off Cowdray Avenue, and it had been hoped the feature would return.

But the firm managing director, Jason Khan, said due to operational issues the slide’s return is unlikely.

He said: “The council is requiring a different structure for us to do this again and we as a company feel would do all the work with little return.

“It’s very sad for Colchester, we have been approached by many other councils to do the same or similar on a greater scale.

“Of course we would prefer to do this again in our home town and have even more we could add, as we have been in this industry for years.”

A council spokesman said, financially, the attraction was a success.

He said: “Cabinet agreed to invest £35,000 in the Colchester Ice Slider attraction, as a way to encourage more people to visit and enjoy everything the borough has to offer over the festive period.

“As well as linking with the town centre and increasing visitor footfall, we hope its popularity will serve as a solid foundation for more events to grow and develop over the coming years.” Overall the attraction made enough money to cover the authority’s investment.

The spokesman added: “The Colchester Ice Slider and its associated festive attractions drew more than 10,000 visitors, between December 1 and January 3.

“The amount raised through ticket sales covered the costs of staging the Ice Slider attraction over and above the money invested by the council.

“The feedback, for what was a ‘first’ in the region, was overwhelmingly positive and confirmed the success of the attraction in helping to re-establish Colchester as a destination for quality ice-themed events.”

Not everyone was overwhelmed.

The town’s High Steward, Sir Bob Russell, raised concerns over a “creeping commercialisation” of Castle Park. Sir Bob said although it was better to be in profit, he thought commercialising the park could be damaging.

Sir Bob added: “The purpose of the park is to provide oasis and tranquility, I’m just flagging up anxieties.”