A TOWN'S long-awaited skateboard park should be open by the autumn, thanks to a councillor's intervention.

Building contractor Colin Barker, a Masham parish councillor, worked for free on the project and persuaded others to help.

Their involvement kept construction costs down at the recreation ground in Masham, near Ripon.

Coun Barker hopes the park will open in September.

Parish council chairman Andy Burrell said the project should have cost £8,000 but donations from local businesses made it much less.