THE drive for cash to pay for a new skate park in Richmond is off the mark with an £8,000 grant from the district's community safety team.

The organisation has dipped into a budget set aside to help cover the cost of initiatives that could stop young people turning to drugs.

Facilities for youngsters interested in skateboards and in-line skates proved a priority in a survey carried out by the partnership last year.

"We have also set a target of reducing incidences of nuisance and anti-social behaviour associated with young people by 15 per cent in three years," said chairman Councillor Lynn Miller.

"We believe facilities such as the skateboard park will act as a diversion for such practices."

Richmond YMCA has taken a leading role in the project and guided the application for the facilities through the planning process.

Spokesman Ken Allinson said: "We are delighted to receive the funding from the Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership.

"About £50,000 needs to be raised in total before the facility can be built and we are busy applying for grants and organising fundraising events.

"The young people themselves are heavily involved with this project and are working hard to make things happen."