TEENAGE skateboarders are causing havoc in Saltburn because they don't have proper facilities.

Councillor Joan Sands, who represents the Saltburn ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough and Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish councils, wants to see proper facilities provided in the town and is concerned at the problems the teenagers are creating.

She has been told that the cost of providing adequate facilities could be as much as £80,000 because the skaters need equipment that will keep them challenged.

Coun Sands said: "I have been desperately trying to get the skaters some facilities since I was elected three years ago but we keep coming up against brick walls because the problem is funding.

"They are skateboarding in the shopping precinct which means that shoppers are having to duck and dive around them as they jump off the pavement and onto the road. It is annoying the residents.

"The skaters are not doing anything illegal and they are not bad lads - they are just enjoying themselves, but we want somewhere specifically for them."

Coun Sands said that the council was trying to find funding from a number of different sources, but that unlike most other areas in East Cleveland, Saltburn is not classed as a deprived area and therefore doesn't qualify for funding such as Single Regeneration Budget.

"I am still hoping that with a cocktail of money from the borough council, the parish council and other sources, we can get this for the young people. We just have to keep on keeping on," she said.