YOUNGSTERS who set up the innovative Clitheroe Skate Park have received a national award.

The park, in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle, was set up by young people who wanted to tackle the social problems caused by young people riding bikes, in-line skating and skateboarding on pavements in the town.

And its success has been recognised with a Philip Lawrence award, a scheme set up in memory of the London headteacher who was murdered in 1995 while protecting one of his pupils from a gang.

Mr Lawrence's widow Frances and son, Lucien, came to Clitheroe to present the award to project co-ordinator Steve Proctor and the 50 youngsters who have been involved in the project.

The popular park came joint second in the 1999 awards which recognise exceptional community work by young people and 10 representatives travelled to London to officially receive the award in December.

But because so many youngsters worked so hard to get the project off the ground a local presentation was also arranged which was attended by more than 40 helpers.

The £30,000 park was the brainchild of the Activate Project at Trinity Youth and Community Centre.

The skate park received extensive backing from the Ribble Valley community, including cash from the Ribble Valley and Clitheroe Councils and the Lancaster Foundation. A team of 30 youngsters aged 10 to 18 spent 18 months designing the skate park and raising cash.

Picture shows Frances and Lucien Lawrence presenting the Philip Lawrence award to, from the left, George Fisher, Steve Procter and Tom Fisher.

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