YOUNG mountain bikers, BMX riders and in-line skaters are in seventh heaven in a County Durham village.

Following a four-year fund-raising drive, the £306,000 Coxhoe Skatepark and Cycling Area has opened next to the district sports centre, in Linden Grove.

The project consists of four areas - a Skidzone skate park, Trax cycling area, Cyclone road safety course and a Willow-wisp conservation area.

It was created following consultation with local young people after the development of a nearby children's play park, called Kidzone.

Barbara Hepplewhite, the driving force behind the project in her role as secretary of Coxhoe Community Partnership, said the Kidzone play area was, in part, developed on land used by young BMX and mountain bike riders.

"The play park was great for the younger ones, but the older ones said they would like a cycle area developed, so we had a public meeting, in June 2001, and decided to press ahead for it.

"It has taken four years, but we brought in more than £300,000 from different sources and it's great to see it now in use."

The partnership knew the cycle park would become reality when a bid for backing from the Active England Fund was approved, to the tune of £218,669, while other contributors included the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, £30,000, Countryside Agency, £25,000, and Northern Rock Foundation, £15,000.

The park has been adopted by Durham City Council, which runs the nearby sports centre, and a development worker has been designated to organise activities at the Skidzone.

Paul Chivers, the council's assistant leisure development officer, said: "The skate park has been in use for a couple of months now, prior to the official opening, and it is already proving extremely popular with young people across the city."

Mrs Hepplewhite thanked all those who supported and backed the scheme, and said it proved the worth of listening to the ideas of young people.

The park was officially opened by the Mayor of Durham, Councillor John Lightley, at the weekend.

The partnership's next development on the site is a £65,000 sensory garden, with most of the funding already in place.