Winter Classic: When outdoor ice hockey and skating took place on flood plains near Peterborough

While the cold weather is not to everyone’s taste – and health warnings have already been issued – in the past, there was a benefit to seeing temperatures dip below 0C.

The Whittlesey Washes, near Peterborough, would regularly freeze, creating a natural outdoor ice rink just a few miles out of the city centre.

This was great news for winter sports enthusiasts – with speed skating championships, ice hockey matches, and ice dancing taking place in the great outdoors.

It is yet to be seen whether we will get those conditions this year – if they do, perhaps a Peterborough Winter Olympics could take place alongside those in Italy?

Here we look back at some of the great images of when the washes have frozen over in the past.