CAMPAIGNERS seeking a skateboarding park are on a collision course with an east Durham council over where it should be built.

It was almost two years ago that teenagers formed an action committee to get a skateboarding facility in Peterlee.

Gareth Richards, 14, a group of his Shotton Hall Comprehensive School friends, and a number of their parents and friends worked to secure a site from Peterlee Town Council, and financial backing from local businesses.

The group has secured more than £80,000 in cash and was hoping that the town council would back Woodhouse Park as the best of three available sites, but councillors have opted for a site in the town's Eden Lane.

They say that the Woodhouse Park site had brought opposition from neighbouring residents, and was owned by Easington District Council.

Campaigners have pledged to battle on for Woodhouse Park.

Gareth, who has just been rewarded for his efforts with a community award from his school, ruled out Eden Lane.

"When we went up there recently we had rocks and stones thrown at us," he said.

Tom Young, campaign press officer, said a public meeting will be held at the Hearts of Oak pub, on November 16, at 6pm.

Leader of Peterlee Town Council Dennis Coates, said a meeting between authority representatives and the campaigners would be held next week "to hopefully get things sorted out".