by Stuart Mitchell

In December, Christmas songs can be heard all around, and it is not uncommon to notice references of winter weather.

Images of icy cold temperatures are described along with snow falling calmly, while crisply settling and creating white blankets, as times of a White Christmas gone by are told.

What they don’t contain are tales of gale force winds and heavy rain.

Earlier this week, the Met Office warned that Storm Bram was on its way to Scotland, with Amber warnings issued due to strong winds and heavy rain. Conditions that presented a challenge for Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland.

This year the event takes place at Glasgow Green and the familiar St. Enoch Square setting. There is fun for all the family across both locations, with a range of fairground rides, Santa’s Grotto, Ice-Skating with skate hire and a wide selection of warm food and drink.

A variety of vendors offer an array of different gift ideas, if you’re still looking to add to the collection for that special someone.

Wind gust alerts reaching up to 90mph had been issued for the west of Scotland though, forcing Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland to temporarily close.

A statement on the official Facebook page advised: “Due to expected adverse weather conditions and in the interest of public safety, organisers have decided to close both Winter Wonderlands at Glasgow Green and St Enoch Square on Tuesday 9th December from 12:00 noon – 12:00 midnight. Online bookings will be refunded.”

Billy Hammond, Site Manager, explained: “The challenge has definitely been the rain. With an open-air event this size and in these conditions in a park, the rain has definitely been a challenge to keep the ice going and to keep it suitable for skating.”

Bree Hammond, Manager of Ice Rink Box Office said: “Yesterday [Tuesday] was the first day we had to actually shut because of the weather. The rain has definitely been an effect on the ice, making it very slippy. For some, that’s a lot better as it makes it more challenging! For those beginners it’s a wee bit harder.”

As Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland re-opened on Wednesday 10th December though, locals were already rushing to get back onto the ice and to get back in the Christmas spirit.

Bree added: “”It’s something nice to go to, it gets people out the door and out the house, gives them something to do. The year has been miserable, we’ve had bad news after bad news, money problems galore, but it’s always nice to have something to go out to get a bit more festive spirit and get a bit more happier.”

Billy was delighted to see families return on the re-opening: “It’s a definite positive for the local community, we do a discount for Glasgow postcodes to come down and it’s good that the people of Glasgow don’t have to travel to other cities to see this kind of event in the Christmas build-up.”

And what does he want for Christmas this year “Just dry weather!”

Glasgow’s Winter Wonderland at St. Enoch Square is open from Thursday 6th November until Wednesday 24th December while the Glasgow Green location is open on selected dates until Sunday 4th January.