THE planned opening of a skatepark has been delayed by bad weather.

The keys to the Northallerton site were due to be handed over on Saturday, but it is now unlikely the facility, at Stone Cross, will be ready for use before next month.

Bad weather has meant that work has not been completed on schedule, and essential safety checks have yet to be carried out.

Dave Goodwin, of Hambleton District Council, said: "The weather has worked against us again. There is still concrete to set and safety balustrades to install.

"Only after that is done can a full safety check be carried out, which is essential as safety of the users must be of paramount importance.

"We are very disappointed by these delays. We know that the youngsters are desperate to get on the site, but we must ask them to be patient.

"It will be open as fast as we can get it open, but only once we know it is safe."

He said the earliest it would be ready was Saturday, and urged parents to keep their youngsters away from the site over the half-term holiday.

He said: "The contractors do not want to have to keep turning people away. They are wasting valuable time making sure no one comes on to the site."