Ice orchestra's melting performance

A Swedish orchestra playing on instruments carved from ice had to abandon a part of its performance when a flute began to melt.

Instrument maker Tim Linharts, from Pitea, has carved functioning flutes, violins and a double bass out of ice.

The instruments were played for the first time at a concert in a gigantic igloo in the Swedish town this week, which was said to be a complete success apart from the flute incident.

Linharts said: "The musicians still do not know how to handle the instruments properly. Flute player Gunilla von Bahr's instrument started melting due to her hot breath.

"Next time I will keep ten ice flutes at hand in case it happens again."

According to Linharts, the musicians will keep their instruments in the deep freeze and only take them out to practice or to perform.