YOUNGSTERS have moved a step closer to getting their own skateboarding park with an application for a National Lottery grant.

A detailed application for a £90,000 skateboard park in Shildon has been submitted to Sport England.

If the bid is successful, youngsters will be able to take advantage of a range of the latest equipment, with terraced seating provided for spectators.

Shildon Town Council's deputy clerk, Tracey Bellas, confirmed that the council had submitted an application for Lottery grant aid, which could be discussed in the next couple of months.

She said plans were drawn up after the town's young people presented the authority with a petition.

Mrs Bellas said: "We believe that if the application for the grant is successful it will encourage young people to express themselves freely and provide a facility for this fast- growing sport, as well as enabling social interaction.

"It will also, hopefully, bring the youngsters from the town square to a proper facility of their own.''

The proposed skateboard park would be situated near the children's play area in Hackworth Park, where the basketball hoops are.

The hoops will be relocated to make way for five items of street course equipment, including a mini half-pipe driveway, a spine ramp, split double-width mini-quarter pipe and a double rail slice.

Special surfacing will be installed, plus terraced seating, floodlights that operate on a timing system, a bicycle rack and permanent railings.

Resurfacing of footpaths leading to the new park has also been included in the plans.

Work is already under way to restore the Victorian grounds of Hackworth Park back to their former glory.

A grant of £324,000 awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund last year is helping to pay for the restoration of the park's bandstand and fountain.

The old miners' rest house will also be restored, and new railings and entrance gates installed.