A GROUP of east Durham teenagers finally flipped after being told off time and again for skateboarding in the street.

Fed up with a barrage of criticism, they decided the time had come to launch their own campaign to secure a skateboard park.

After two years, the skateboarders have learnt their dream is on the verge of becoming reality.

Gareth Richards, 13, chairman of the junior section of Peterlee Skate Park Action Group welcomed the news yesterday that possible sites had finally been made available.

Gareth, who lives in Peterlee, was one of the youngsters who found himself constantly being ticked off for skating around estates.

Determined to continue with the hobby, he, with his brother Michael and friends Robert Goodfellow and Andrew Wilkinson, set about getting a skate park.

The boys planned their campaign to the letter.

They formed a committee, organised a petition, contacted the police, wrote to other areas with established skate parks, pleaded with local businesses for funding, and approached Peterlee Town Council for a possible site.

An adult committee was formed to guide them on matters of finance and planning.

But fundamentally the hard work stayed with the lads, who even drafted their own rough design for the park before contacting an expert.

In no time, their petition included more than 300 names and the Modus Group, which is carrying out an extensive regeneration scheme in Peterlee Town Centre, promised £25,000 towards the costs, with housebuilder Yuill also undertaking to give a helping hand.

There was more good news this week when Peterlee council offered three possible sites for the park: at Woodhouse Park; Eden Lane; or Lowhills Road.

So far, everyone, including the police, agrees that the best option would be Woodhouse Park. Whichever site is selected, Gareth and his skating friends are delighted.

"We are over the moon there has been a lot of hard work, but it has been worth it in the end," he said.

Hopes are high that the project will be completed by the end of the year