YOUNG people who have been asking for a new play facility in their town will have their calls answered.

More than £100,000 has been pledged towards creating a skatepark in Spennymoor and work on the design and public consultation will start soon.

Youngsters have been writing to Spennymoor Town Council asking if one can be built for about eight years.

The council has worked with Spennymoor Area Action Partnership to secure £115,000 and a site for the facility to ensure it will go ahead.

Pauline Waterson, town clerk, said: "It has been requested on a fairly regular basis by young people for at least eight years.

"To hear young people from our township are cycling to Coxhoe or Chilton to enjoy their parks isn't right and we wish to do something about it. There is clearly demand which we wish to meet, it is recognition of the needs of our young people."

Money has come from Durham County Councillors Neil Foster, Barbara Graham and Kevin Thompson who between them gave £25,000 from their neighbourhood budget, £40,000 from the Area Action Partnership (AAP) and £50,000 from the town council. It is hoped that another £30,000 will be confirmed in the next few days.

The council has also agreed to provide land for the development in Jubilee Park and take on maintenance responsibility once installed.

It is likely to be built near the older children's play area, close to the main Carr Lane entrance, as it is not in close proximity to residents.

Michael Wilkes, AAP co-ordinator, said: "The project fit our priority of children and young people provision and it has been identified with a lot of feedback from youngsters about what they would like in the area.

"It isn't easy, it is a big project. The town council put money in, suitable land and will have responsibility for it, the AAP wanted to help make it happen. "

Young people will be involved in choosing the design. It is expected to suit all ages and various wheel hobbies not just skateboarding.

A delegation including councillors and pupils from Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College visited skate parks in other towns and the facility at Coxhoe appeared to be the favourite.

The AAP and council hope to build something similar in Spennymoor and will apply for additional funding if needed.

Mr Wilkes said: "Once the exact cost is known we'll try to get external funding. It will happen, we don't know timing yet but we are trying to push it as quickly as possible."