Ice maiden Natasha Mooney is making her mark in the world's top ice spectacular alongside one of the celebrity winners from ITV's Dancing on Ice series.

Ms Mooney, 30, from Wheatley, is one of the world class skaters in this year's troupe of Holiday on Ice, the world's largest producer of ice-based entertainment.

Its latest production opens at the Wembley Arena, in London, tomorrow and runs until Saturday.

A former pupil of Wheatley Park School, Ms Mooney joins 45 international skaters for the show, Romanza, a story of love and its conse- quences. In previous shows, she has played Olive Oyl in a production of Popeye on ice.

She takes part in a least one show a day, although on Saturdays often has a punishing three-show schedule.

Romanza also features former England rugby international Kyran Bracken, who last year won the Dancing on Ice contest.

Ms Mooney said: "Kyran is such a nice guy and it's amazing that someone who is used to the tough world of rugby can be so graceful on the ice."

Her love affair with ice-skating began at the age of seven when she joined her brother Darren's Cub group trip to the Oxford ice rink, in Oxpens.

She was later coached at the rink by Martin Minshull, who was himself a principal soloist for Holiday on Ice for many years.

Since then, she has not looked back and scooped a host of national and international awards before starting a glittering career on the ice in 1997.

Her UK debut for Holiday on Ice came in 1998, when she performed in the Broadway Show, in Brighton, before appearing in London.

She said: "Being in Holiday on Ice gives me the chance to see the world, have a career and enjoy my ice skating."

A keen interest in ballet, gymnastics and swimming has given her skating performances an extra degree of elegance and dynamism.

Being in the show has also led to romance. Last year, she married Oscar Sierra, 27, who she met in Mexico City while touring.

Every year, three million people watch Holiday on Ice's shows.