SKATEBOARDERS may wax lyrical about their sport - but council chiefs are less than lyrical about their wax.

The sport is still growing in popularity, with children and young adults taking to the streets with their hobby.

But although the potential dangers to the skaters are obvious, they are also creating a hidden danger for pedestrians, particularly the elderly.

A number of people have been hurt after slipping on the wax that skateboarders put down to improve their technique.

They use the wax on the edge of kerbs to allow them to "grind", which involves riding the board on its axle, known as a truck, along the kerb edge.

Given the number of kerbs available and the increasing popularity of the sport, the hazard from grinding wax is becoming a serious concern to officials in North Yorkshire.

A county council spokes-man said: "Skateboarders and parents should be aware that it is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 section 161 to deposit anything on the highway that injures or endangers a highway user.

"A person found guilty of such an offence would be liable to a maximum fine of £1,000."

The council's executive member for environmental services, Peter Sowray, said: "We do not wish to discourage the pursuit of this sport.

"However, as the highway authority, the county council cannot allow highway users to be endangered and disrupted."