YOUNGSTERS in Northallerton were celebrating yesterday after councillors gave the green light for a skate park in the town.

Hambleton council cabinet approved a site next to the leisure centre at Stone Cross - and kick-started undraising for the £76,000 development with a £5,000 grant.

The land will be leased from the Allertonshire School, following agreement by its governors on Tuesday. It will give the skaters their first permanent home in the town, ending a temporary agreement with the town council which allowed access to the Applegarth.

The move ends years of campaigning by the Northallerton Wheelers. Andy West, lifelong learning manager at Northallerton College, is one of the adults who has been working with the youngsters on their bid. "It is really good news," he said. "They have been trying to secure a site for a number of years."

The Wheelers have been raising cash, but the future of the park will depend on grant funding from other bodies.

"There is still a long way to go," said Mr West, "But this is certainly the biggest step forward we have seen."