Winchester Cathedral’s choristers took a break ahead of one of their busiest weeks of the year.

More than 30 boys and girls spent a relaxing morning skating around the city’s ice rink –— or as relaxing as it can be in full dress.

It came as celebrations are intensifying at the cathedral ahead of the big day.

Last year, more than 300,000 visitors flocked to the Christmas market and ice rink and that number is expected to be topped.

A cathedral spokesman said: “We don’t have the full figures yet, but we think there have been more people visiting, which can only be beneficial to the city.

“Winchester has been buzzing and the weather has been very kind and so many shoppers have come by that we think we have bettered 2010, when there was so much bad weather.”

This week features even more festive celebrations, with a public service this evening (Dec 22) at 6.30pm, followed by the cathedral’s choristers returning to the day job tomorrow (Dec 23), singing carols at 1pm.

Family services will start at 11am and 3pm on Christmas Eve, with a midnight service beginning at 11.30pm, before 8am, 10am, 11.15am and 3.30pm service on Christmas Day.

Hundreds attended the Lord Lieutenant’s Christmas Concert on Friday, hosted by TV gardener and writer, Alan Titchmarsh, while the Christmas market was given a fine send-off with a carol service on Sunday.

The Christmas market closed yesterday (Dec 21) with the ice rink open until January 2, 2012.