HEAVEN is a half-pipe for a skateboard crazy family in Stacksteads. Dad Michael Groocock has turned his back-to-back house's yard into a skaters paradise.

The self-employed joiner began building the ramp because there were no local facilities and was tired of travelling to Bolton and Stockport with his son Jake Goodfellow, 15. Now he can skate whenever he likes.

Neighbours in Wardle Street are happy about the ramp. Next-door Margaret Lang described Michael, who lives with his daughter Jasmine, as a great neighbour and didn't want him to leave the area. If he had not been able to build the ramp, he was considering moving house.