YOUNGSTERS fighting for a skateboard park in Northallerton have been given a government grant of more than £10,000 to create a web-site and video.

Members of the Northallerton Wheels roject have been awarded £10,784 from the government's adult and community learning gund.

The money will help them to create a web-site and video to explain the need for a skateboard club.

Manager for lifelong learning at Northallerton college, Mr Andy West, said the grant offered the youngsters a great opportunity.

He said: "It is a great opportunity for young people to develop awareness of their activities within the community. It combines the recreational activity and a learning opportunity at the same time."

The youngsters have faced an on-going battle to find a suitable site for a skateboard park in the town and the issue has been discussed on a number of occassions by both the town council and Hambleton District Council.

In the meantime, temporary measures have been introduced that allow the skateboarders to use the Applegarth car park.

Last year Northallerton Town Council drew up proposals to site the club on land at Bullamoor park. But Hambleton District Council, which owns the land, refused to grant permission, claiming it was the wrong site for such use.

The cash for the web-site and video is part of the £2.8m funding for local learning projects announced by Education and Employment Minister Tessa Blackstone this week.

Nineteen other organisations in North Yorkshire have also benefited from the government initiative started to further opportunities for adult learning within local communities.

It is hoped the Northallerton Wheels web-site and video will help the youngsters develop ICT and citizenships skills.

Town Mayor Coun Jack Dobson said he was delighted their efforts had been recognised.

"I feel that this money will give them that chance. It will not only benefit them but it will benefit the community as a whole," he said