Bristol and England rugby player Mark Regan is helping to pick a young skater to perform at the Kyran Bracken Ice Party in Clevedon next week.

Bracken asked Regan, 36, to join the judging panel to pick a winner of tomorrow's Skate Factor competition.

The winner will skate at the Ice Party in the Hand Arena on December 22 and 23 in front of crowds of thousands.

Mark and Kyran, who became friends playing for Bristol Rugby, will choose the winner with sports commentator Alastair Hignell, Andy Peters, radio presenter Graham Torrington and Sammy Boy from GWR.

The competition has attracted entries from tons of keen skaters, and ten hopefuls have been shortlisted to take part in the final after a series of heats at Bristol Ice Rink.

They are Jodie Elliot, 15, from Temple Cloud, Sarah Toogood, 16, from Claverham, Lucy Harker, 17, from Cotham, Jo West, 15, from Mangotsfield, Rachel Luney, 15, from Portishead, Tamieka Gunawardana, 11, from Staple Hill, Vicki Watson, 20, from Thornbury, Daniel Ashworth, 23, from Gloucester, Danielle Stokes, 19, and Natalie Stokes, 15, both from Glamorgan.

Show manager, Scott Goodall, said the final was a chance to get a preview of the Ice Party.

"A total of 1,800 seats will be opened up and a full light and sound production will be given to all ten of the finalists," he said.

"Judging by the standard of the performances in the heats, the Skate Factor final really will be an amazing spectacle.

"It will also give fans the chance to come down and get a sneak preview of the venue."

Skate Factor organisers have also given Bristol Rugby 500 tickets to the final for its supporters.

There are 100 of these, and 50 family tickets, available at www.bristolrugby.co.uk.

Former England scrum half Bracken teamed up with Mr Goodall and the Hand Indoor Arena's owner, Nick Davies, to bring his ice party to the Davis Lane venue.

Bracken, who won ITV's Dancing On Ice in 2007 bought an ice rink following his success and toured with an ice dancing show.

He has organised several performances, including an 11,000 sell-out spectacular in Jersey earlier this year.

Celebrity skaters, including Suzanne Shaw and Claire Buckfield, will perform at the event and Boyzone star, Stephen Gately and X Factor contestant Marisa Billitteri will sing.

The show will be choreographed by Bristol-born Olympic and European gold medal skater Robin Cousins.

Tickets for the Ice Party, held in association with the Evening Post and GWR, are selling fast and there are 100 still available for the Monday night performance.

They are £23.50 for adults and £17.50 concessions and can be bought at www.handarena. com/iceparty or by calling the box office on 0844 8472282.

Tickets for the Skate Factor final, which takes place tomorrow in Clevedon's Hand Arena, are £2. They are available on the doors, which open at 5.45pm for a 7pm start.