SKATERS and bike enthusiasts were able to show off their skills when a £95,000 skate park was launched yesterday.

Youths in Shildon have been campaigning for years for the skate park, which has been provided with funding from Sport England and Shildon Town Council.

Dignitaries from all over County Durham were joined by crowds of people to watch as youngsters performed stunts on skateboards, rollerblades and BMX bikes.

The scheme could be a leading example to other communities as they seek to build their own facilities.

Shildon council clerk Tom Toward said: "People have come to see how we have done this, and our Lottery application will be put on to our website so people can see what we did to get funding.

"If this can help others to successful bids then that would be great.''

The leader of the town council, Councillor Philip Thompson, performed the opening ceremony and congratulated Danielle Merkin, a youngster from the town, who thought up the skate park's name - High 5.

He said: "Not many will realise it has taken well over two years of sweat and toil, but I am sure they realise it has been worth it.''

Coun Thompson praised what had been a team effort with support from environmental agency Groundwork (East Durham), the police, Sedgefield Borough Council and Direct Works. Professional skaters from Tribe Enterprises, a company which has an advisory role in creating skate parks, gave demonstrations and passed on tips to youngsters.

The company's project manager, Shane Burke, said: "Our main role today is to make this safe and fun for young people. I think it is a really nice park that is going to be well used, and we will be looking at having competitions here.''

The facility is a hit among the town's youngsters, with up to 200 people gathering there each night this week.

Fifteen-year-old Jamie Hole, who is a member of the Friends of the Skateboard Park, said: "I didn't think we would get it. This is the best thing the council have done."