YOUNG skateboarders in a North Yorkshire market town who had been offered £60,000 towards providing a park for their sport, have been told the scheme cannot go ahead.

The venture had been lined up for a site at the Pickering Recreation Ground but the trustees now say the land is needed for football training.

County councillor Betsy Hill, chairman of the steering group which has been masterminding the venture, said the money would be lost by the end of this month unless an alternative site is found.

Pickering Town Council has been told in an open letter from the skateboard steering group committee to Richard Robertson, chairman of the Recreation Ground, that Pickering's young generation did not feel they were sufficiently valued by the community.

The Mayor, Councillor Judy Dixon said "I am disappointed that we have got nowhere after all the work that has been put in to trying to provide a skateboard park over so many years".

Coun Dixon suggested the coalyard site might be an alternative option, but it would be a longer term prospect and not able to be progressed before the end of the month.

"The people who are responsible for the recreation ground are denying the town's young people £60,000," she said.

Town clerk Andrew Husband said money was in the council's budget towards the management of the skateboard park.

The council agreed to write to the Recreation Ground trustees expressing their disappointment over the situation and alerting them to the fact that money was in the budget for the running of the park.

Mr Robertson was away on holiday and unavailable for comment.