Park on wheels for skate fans

The idea, based on a scheme in Canada, is set to visit each town in the borough on at least one day a week over the summer.

The £52,000 project has been warmly welcomed by residents in the Sedgefield area, and is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

The plan is that up to 25 young people will be able to use the skateboard park at any one time, and would be charged £1 each.

Spennymoor Town Council had previously approved a contribution of £8,500, Great Aycliffe Town Council has donated £17,000 and a grant of £2,000 has been received from the Safer Communities Initiative.

Youth worker time has been allocated to the project by Durham County Council's education in the community department.

During a meeting held at the end of last week, members of Sedgefield Borough Council backed plans to buy equipment for the park and the scheme was unanimously welcomed by councillors.

Bernd Bangel, youth services co-ordinator for Sedgefield Borough Council, said the scheme had been well received by the public. He said: "As far as we know there is nothing comparable in the UK or Europe - it's unique. This is a great opportunity for the youngsters of Sedgefield to try something different.

"We are hoping to have the mobile skate park up and running later this year.

"I think it will be very well received because the reaction we have had from people in the borough has been overwhelming and the response from the youngsters in the area has been particularly encouraging.

"The skate park will be touring the area and no doubt plenty of youngsters will use the park - which is there for everyone."

The park is expected to be used by hundreds of children over the summer period, across the Sedgefield area.

Mr Bangel added: "This is a real boost for the Sedgefield are, and will give youngsters in the borough somewhere to meet and skate.

"We are very proud to be able to say we are the first borough in the country to invest in a mobile skate park.