Work has started on a £22,000 skateboard and BMX park for youngsters in Chester-le-Street.

Enthusiasts worked with Chester-le-Street District Council on the plans for the facility at the town's Riverside Sports Complex - due to open on Saturday August 31.

The youngsters wrote to the council about a year ago asking for a dedicated area where they could perform stunts without getting into trouble.

Since then more than a dozen skateboarders have been in regular meetings with the council, drawing up designs and finding suppliers and funding.

Last week (mon 13) the council's planning and licensing committee gave the development planning permission and work has started on the site.

The council's community leisure manager Bill Lightburn said the facility was much needed.

"Even following their chosen activity in the street they get criticised and chased around by the residents, but when you think about it, they're doing nothing more than being sociable. It's a social activity. This enables them to follow their hobby in a controlled environment."

Room for the park has been made by realigning the complex's tennis courts to make room for it. No tennis courts have been lost.

The park will be at the furthest point from houses and the council says it will have no greater impact on residents than the tennis courts. It will close at dusk.

The council has put £20,000 towards the project and the group has obtained the remaining £2,000 from the County Durham Foundation's Investing in Children grant fund.

Jonathan Foreman, 16, who is studying for his A-Levels, was one of the youngsters who originally wrote to the council asking it to provide the facility.

He said: "We just gathered a group together and we've been to regular meetings with the council. We've seen some drawings, the company behind it gave us everything we wanted so we're really pleased."

Sites for skate parks are being sought in Durham City by a partnership that includes the city council.

The move comes as Durham County Council has issued an appeal to skateboarders not to use its County Hall headquarters as a make-shift park because of the damage they are doing.