DEESIDE ice skating teams are celebrating a remarkable year on the ice.

Deeside Synchronized Skating Club, based at Deeside Leisure Centre, have proven themselves to be amongst the best in Europe.

Synchronized skating includes between eight and twenty figure skaters, depending on the level, performing together as a team. They move as a flowing unit at high speed over the ice, while completing complicated footwork.

The club's Deelites preliminary team, despite going up a level to juvenile, finished fourth in Europe in a competition in Belgium earlier in the year, and rounded off their spectacular year by taking home gold from another in Cardiff two weeks ago.

And not only did they take home a gold medal from Cardiff, they achieved remarkable feat of having the highest score ever by a Deeside team. And the Angels elementary team finished fourth in Wales, but were comfortably ranked as the best team at their age group in Wales. There are many different levels at which synchronized skaters can compete, with preliminary and elementary typically being for 8-19 year olds.

In the new year, the teams have further opportunities to cement their place as the best in Wales with world championship events scheduled in Nottingham, Sheffield and Dumfries in Scotland.

Darell Jones, coach of Deelites and Angels, said: ''It's been an amazing year for both teams, they've firmly established themselves as being the best in Wales.

''And next year, we have the capability to show we're the best in Britain as a whole.

''I'd just like to say a massive thanks to Aura Leisure for letting us use their facilities, and all the sponsors, without who none of this would be possible.''