TEENAGERS in East Dorset determined to get their own skate park are at last seeing their plans come a step closer to reality.

Funding for the base for the facility in Fryers Field, West Moors has been granted by East Dorset District Council Youth Forum and work on the site is expected to begin in late September.

Further fund-raising is planned for the ramps and equipment and plans are also in place for a BMX dirt-track.

It is hoped that the whole project can be finished by the end of the year.

A group of local teenagers has been spearheading the £25,000 to £30,000 project after coming under pressure from local residents over their skateboarding antics.

They have been assisted by an adult committee, chaired by parent Steve Hunt.

He said: "The kids have worked very well as a group doing surveys, petitions and designed their own layout with ramp suppliers. The adult committee has just given them guidance.

"By making representations they have managed to get £12,000 of funding which is mainly going towards the base which we hope to start work on around September 20 if everything goes according to plan.

"We hope then with the monies left over and more money coming in to get the ramps. The kids are currently deciding which ramp supplier to go with."

Among the fund-raising planned is the first ever Beating of the Bounds walk in West Moors, due to take place in October.

Organisers hope to get as much community involvement as possible in the event.

Mr Hunt said: "The skate park committee have organised it and we hope to get as many people involved as possible asking them for a fee to walk so that it becomes an annual fund-raiser.

"We are hoping to get various community groups to come forward like the Cubs and Ccouts to organise little activities for walkers to do en-route and mark out observation posts for people to observe things. We are also hoping to offer refreshments en-route."

Anyone willing to get involved with the Beating of the Bounds fund-raiser should contact Steve Hunt on 07899 064688.