A NEW sports and skate park aimed at keeping bored teenagers out of Burnley town centre was opened yesterday.

The Sunny Clough off Rossendale Road facility will also include a new asphalt kickabout area, basketball hoop and grass football pitch.

Councillor Barry Guttridge, portfolio holder for leisure, joined local children and adults for the launch and Education Learning Activity Centre (ELAC) organised a colouring competition to decide which children will share the pride of cutting the ribbon.

Simon Goff, parks services manager, said: "The new Teenzone at Sunny Clough is part of a borough-wide project to improve recreation facilities for teenagers and addresses needs that were identified in the recent Best Value review of parks."

ELAC was originally set up by residents from Griffin, Barclay and Holmestrand estates who recognised there was a need for somewhere that children and young people could go.

The group is now trying to secure funding for floodlights at the park.