A TEAM of youngsters from South Ribble have set up their own committee to look into funding a skate park in Leyland.

The Leyland Skate Parks Project is made up of more than 50 young people from the area who all want facilities to practise moves and daredevil stunts.

Instead of hanging around on the streets the youngsters have put their heads together with chiefs at South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council to try and create a skate park in the town.

This involves attending committee meetings every fortnight and thrashing out ideas about funding, design and availability of land.

Danny Cameron, 15, a member of the project committee, said: "At the moment we tend to go to Tesco's to skate, but every so often we get moved on. A skate park would be ideal. It would get us off the streets."

So far the youngsters have had backing from the police and the local council are even helping out to try and get European funding.

Councillor Bill Evans, portfolio holder for community development, said: "The youngsters want somewhere to go where they won't be causing a nuisance. These youths tend to meet in Leyland town centre so they're after something there where they can go. We are serious about finding somewhere for them. The next step is finding a venue, and putting something on it."

Police in Leyland have welcomed the move. Rob Duerden, community beat manager for Leyland town centre, said: "The development of a skateboard park in the right area would be a good idea, as it would provide a purpose-built area for skateboarders to go.

"It would also help to alleviate the problems that can be caused when the town centre areas and car parks are used for this purpose which can sometimes lead to complaints from the public."