It’s the time of year when many hop on a plane headed for colder climes where they will strap planks to their feet and throw themselves down hills.

For the rest of us - there’s always the dry ski slope on the Outdoor Sports Centre.

In light of this, the Daily Echo look back at pictures of people enjoying themselves while skiing on the dry mat.

One of the images from January 1979 shows ski instructors Lee Rudman and Keith Woodhouse experiencing real snow on the slopes after plenty of the white stuff had fallen.

Another picture shows improvements being carried out on the slope - taken the same year it clinched first place in the ski slope of the year competition.