YOUNGSTERS in Spennymoor can look forward to using a mobile skate park now that a new venue has finally been secured.

The skate park has been a big hit with young people in Chilton, Fishburn and Newton Aycliffe since it started touring the borough last year.

But weekly sessions in Spennymoor never got off the ground because motorists refused to clear the original location, Festival Walk car park, one night a week.

Sedgefield Borough Council, which runs the facility, erected signs and distributed leaflets in an attempt to convince drivers to vacate the car park.

However, when these efforts failed, the borough council worked with Spennymoor Town Council, which part-funded the project, to find a new site for the mobile arena.

The town council is resurfacing and cleaning up land at High Whitworth, opposite Jubilee Park, to host the park every Wednesday between 5pm and 8pm from next week.

The unit known as Airtime features a half-pipe ramp imported from California, a quarter-pipe and a range of grind rails and ramps.

Bernd Bangel, Sedgefield Borough Council's youth services co-ordinator, said: "It has been a long, drawn out affair which we are delighted has finally been resolved.

"We believe this is an ideal site, suitable to our facilities and certain to be a big hit with the young people of Spennymoor wanting to enjoy skateboarding.

"It is a wonderful facility and users have responded very well, as have their parents who see that we provide supervision and visitors can rent safety equipment."

Terry Robson, Spennymoor Town Council clerk, said: "The town council is really delighted that young people living in the Spennymoor area will finally get to use this facility, particularly as we provided £8,000 to help fund it.

"The vast majority of young people are responsible and want somewhere safe and modern to play, it is great that they will have the facility they deserve from now on.

"Other people in the town will also appreciate it as some worried that these kids were skating in unsuitable areas."