SKATEBOARDERS in Poulton were wheel-y flipped out this week with the opening of their own skate park.

Last September a team of 25 young people approached Lancashire Youth and Community Service to ask how they could develop somewhere to practise their "ollying and kick flips".

Wyre Borough Council met the group -- aged between seven and 25 -- discussed their designs and helped them realise their ambitious plans by installing a 5ft x 22ft plywood half pipe.

They then worked together to develop the park in Poulton's Jean Stansfield Memorial Park on Vicarage Road.

The park was officially opened on January 19 by Wyre Borough Council leader Pat Catlow and Lancashire's cabinet member for education and young people, Alan Whittaker.

Mr Whittaker praised the young people for setting a good example.

He said: "Not only have they been concerned about the effects of skateboarding in the street on other members of the community, they then got together with Lancashire County Council and Wyre Borough Council to do something about it."

The number of skateparks across the Fylde has risen in recent years as skateboarding, inline skating and BMX bikes have become more and more popular.

The greater demand for skateparks could be due to the fact that some cities, such as Manchester, have proposed bringing in fines for people skating on the streets.

This follows in the footsteps of America, where it is illegal to skate on the streets and police can confiscate the board of anyone caught.

As well as Poulton, there is a skate park in Blackpool's Stanley Park. and a skate area in St Annes, comprising two ramps, three rails and a wall for "grinding".