SKATING stars of the future could see their ambitions to turn professional left in ruins following the announcement of the closure of Bristol Ice Rink.

Dozens of young skaters who hope to turn their passion into a full-time job face having their dreams thwarted by the plans to turn the rink into student flats.

Among those whose futures now hang in the balance are teenagers Jamie Tucker and Anna Walsh, who between them have a round trip of more than 330 miles to train at the Frogmore Street rink.

The young figure skaters come to Bristol every week from Cardiff and Tavistock near Plymouth for coaching, practising for hours at a time as they follow their dreams of success.

But now Jamie and his mum Dawn Rich are considering a drastic step to keep his hopes alive – moving to another part of the country to find a suitable rink.

They may have to move as far as Coventry or Nottingham to keep Jamie on the ice, a decision that would cause the family "massive upheaval".

Jamie, 15, has been skating for more than four years, and with Anna, 16, since the end of last year. He showed a flair for the sport from the moment he first laced up his skates, and started private lessons after speeding through a beginner's course.

He skates in Plymouth but comes to Bristol because it is his closest full-size rink, making the 122-mile trip every Friday by car and train.

Miss Rich, 44, said: "I pick him up from school Friday lunch time and he does the afternoon and evening sessions to get the maximum out of it.

"He and Anna also do an off-ice class, where their coach practises jumps with them between lessons on the rink in the afternoon while the public skate.

"Right from the start Jamie has been really serious about his skating. He wants to be a professional figure skater.

"The current plan is to go to college after his GCSEs and do a sports course, then a foundation degree which includes physiotherapy."

But Plymouth's rink is also under threat of closure, and when Bristol's closes in October there will be no suitable rink for 200 miles from where they live.

Miss Rich said: "It would have a huge impact on him, because we can't do training three or four times a week when it is 200 miles away.

"Bristol, although it is 120 miles away, is still close enough to do as a day trip, but the next closest would be Swindon, and he can't train four times a week there.

"The closure would be devastating. He has lots of friends up in Bristol, and he has been having lessons from his coach Pam Shellard for three years.

"We are starting to consider relocation. We are not entirely sure where – it could be Nottingham or Coventry – but we are thinking of going to a few rinks around the country and trying out how he fits in with other coaches.

"I am a store manager for a supermarket and I would have to reconsider my job as well. My mum is in Plymouth, as is Jamie's dad, and we could have to give up our home and friends. It would be a massive upheaval for us."

Jamie said: "If the rinks in Bristol and Plymouth are closed we will have to move across the country. If not, my whole skating career plans go nowhere. We may have to move to Swindon or Coventry or Nottingham, which is a serious consideration for us. I am very unhappy about the rink closing. I don't really want to move halfway across England."

His skating partner, Anna, has been skating for five years and also wants to be a professional figure skater. She added: "If the Bristol rink closes I wouldn't have a coach anymore, so it would be a bit of a problem. It would have a pretty big impact on me. I would have to move and find a different coach or change my whole plans for the future.

"I have been skating here for four years and it would devastate my career plans."

Student accommodation provider Unite is determined to press on with the redevelopment of the rink.

An online petition has already attracted more than 3,700 signatures and an official petition has been lodged with the council. If 3,500 people sign this, then the issue will be the subject of a 15-minute debate at Bristol City Council.

● Sign at http://epetitions.bristol. gov.uk/epetition_core/view/icerink.