Thirsk youngsters saw at first hand last week the problems involved in providing skateboarding facilities in the town.

Councillors and volunteers have been trying for a couple of years to set up a suitable place for them to follow their hobby.

Currently they ride on the streets, where they often annoy residents and put themselves at risk from traffic.

Schemes have been abandoned because the site was wrong, there were objections from residents or the scheme was too ambitious.

At an open meeting on Monday last week, about 30 young people joined in talks on the next move.

A plan drawn up to provide a skate park with several ramps on Carrs Fields (Ethel Johnson Trust land) was thrown out by Hambleton planners following objections from nearby residents.

Trustees have now gone back to the original scheme for one skate ramp on Carrs Fields, for which planning permission has already been granted.

Meanwhile, councillors and volunteer groups have looked at three suggested sites - The Flatts near Thirsk swimming pool, derelict land adjoining Thirsk Racecourse and the original plan on Carrs Field.

Chairman of the Ethel Johnson Trust, Coun Steve Hubbard, outlined the latest moves of trustees.

"We have gone back to the original plan and have had landscaping proposals accepted and are ready to move in with developers.

"The only thing holding up the scheme is the positioning of a telegraph pole, without permission, by BT. This is stopping access for heavy plant to prepare the site."

The preferred site on land at The Flatts, next to the swimming pool, was thrown out because it is now considered too small.

Investigations are continuing into a piece of land at Newsam/ Station Road. This is derelict land, and the owner, John Ball, has given his permission. But the land is leased to Thirsk Racecourse as it adjoins its caravan park and it is not yet clear whether a skate park would affect operation of this.