YOUNG people in Barnoldswick will be able to show off their skating skills when a piece of equipment costing £1,100 is unveiled at a new skate park.

The facility, designed for skaters, skateboarders and stunt bike riders, is being developed in Victory Park thanks to the fundraising efforts of members of the Wheely Park Group, formed by young people, parents and councillors.

Since work began on the project the site, which was once a crazy golf course, has been resurfaced and logs, rocks and other obstacles have been put in.

Later this week a brand new £1,100 half pipe - a U-shaped ramp - will be officially unveiled at the skate park. Young skaters have already been practising on the new equipment after it was installed in time for the town's first Balloon Festival last weekend and the school holiday week.

Pendle councillor, Mary Norcross, and secretary of the Wheely Park Group, Jackie Taylforth, will do the honours at the official opening ceremony this Friday.

The skate park is part of overall plans to regenerate the park and the idea came out of a public meeting two years ago to find out what people using the park wanted.

Pendle councillor David Whipp said: "The biggest single group of people at the meeting was some 40-odd youngster who wanted somewhere to skate and ride their bikes.

"It is the youngsters themselves who have formed the Wheely Park Group and raised money and applied for grants to make their idea a reality. They have worked their socks off to achieve it, which is wonderful."

Coun Whipp said the next step was to raise enough money to install floodlighting so that the park can be used safely in the evenings during the winter months.

They are currently getting quotes for the work, but Coun Whipp said it will cost something in the region of £10,000. The group has so far raised around half of that amount and is continuing to gain funds.