YOUNG skate board enthusiasts finally put their own track through its paces yesterday.

Months of planning came to fruition as the Chester-le-Street Skate Park was christened by skateboarders - plus BMX bikers and in-line skaters.

The facility has been developed by the district council on a Tarmac area alongside tennis courts on the Riverside Sports Complex.

Within minutes of council chairman councillor Bill Laverick performing the official opening, scores of youngsters were queuing to make use of the facility.

Lots were drawn to decide who were the first to gain access to the skate park. Sixteen-year-old Nicky Brownlee and four of his friends from Chester-le-Street won the draw and were soon showing off their skills on the skate park slopes.

Bill Lightburn, the council's community leisure manager, said within hours the £22,000 investment already looked like money well spent.

"If today is anything to go by it's certainly very popular.

"There's a limit how many can use it at one time, but we probably had 80 to 100 within the first couple of hours.

"I think it's popularity is down to the fact that we have involved the young people all along."

Chester-le-Street Council came up with £20,000 of the expenditure from its capital programme backed by a £2,000 top-up from the County Durham Foundation's Investing in Children programme.

The park is open from 10am to 9pm, or dusk, between Monday and Friday, and from 10am to 5pm, or dusk, on weekends.

Admission is £1 per session, payable at the sports complex reception area.

Purchase of a £2.50 leisure card for under-16s and £5 for the over-16s is also required for users of the park.

Wearing protective clothing is advisable and protective headgear to BS EN 1078 standard is mandatory.