YOUNGSTERS in the North Yorkshire towns of Malton and Norton-on-Derwent will soon have a state-of-the-art skateboard park - thanks to the determination of a local policeman.

Work is due to start within a few weeks after a grant of nearly £36,000 was awarded towards the venture.

The cash, from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, was hailed as "excellent news" by PC Stewart Ashton, the driving force behind the £80,000 project earmarked for the Northern Electric site, in Norton.

PC Ashton, who has pressed landowners and potential funding agencies to help raise the cash, said it was hoped work would be completed by the end of March or the beginning of April.

The grant of £35,898 will be added to cash from other agencies and sources and decisions on two further funding bids are expected within a few days.

PC Ashton said, the development would be a great asset to the young people of the two towns, enabling them to have a purpose-built skateboard park and no longer having to use pavements and car parks.

Both Malton and Norton Town Councils had backed the scheme and welcomed Northern Electric's decision to offer a short-term tenancy of the site at no cost.