RESIDENTS of a Southampton estate are celebrating as contractors start work on a new skatepark.

Youngsters in Thornhill have campaigned for more than ten years to have a place for skateboarding, in-line skating and trick biking.

Thanks to a £243,207 grant from the New Deal for Communities scheme - which aims to regenerate estates all over the country - their wish has been realised.

Student Alan Masters, 23, who worked closely with the New Deal working group to design the park, said: "I'm going to be teaching a lot of kids to skate. There's already a lot of them who are really excited about this park.

"The closest skatepark we have to Thornhill at the moment is in the city centre, which is quite hard for some young people to get to."

Alan, who lives on Hinkler Road, and other young skaters around Thornhill were closely consulted throughout the design process with Poole-based contractors GBH Engineering Ltd.

The 50 by 15 metre Hinkler Green park, which NDC bosses expect to open in May, will also include a basketball court and shelter.

Deputy partnership co-ordinator Peter Hunt said: "It's a wonderful opportunity for young people who have been campaigning for years and years to at last have their dreams realised."

Councillor Derek Burke, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and culture, said: "This is another brilliant idea for Thornhill. Hopefully a lot of people will benefit from the new skatepark."

More can be learnt about the community-led New Deal scheme by visiting the team at the Hinkler Parade shop or by phoning 0800 169 5561.