DETERMINED youngsters in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, have rolled into action to canvass councillors for a skating rink.

Fed-up teenagers living in the Station Road area came up with a 600-strong petition after constant complaints about their skating in the street.

Local businesses and organisations are concerned about juvenile nuisance and vandalism, particularly on Station Road.

The teenagers, led by 16-year-old Stephen Park of Edward Street, were desperate not to be labelled bad cookies, so they arranged a forum with police, youth workers, councillors and park rangers at Walton-le-Dale Youth Centre, Brindle Road, to put forward ideas.

Brownedge St Mary's High School pupil Stephen said: "I got the idea from a friend in Weymouth. He had nowhere to skate and managed to get a skate park.

"We practise on Kwik Save car park but get complaints from customers and staff. We have even been moved on at night by the police.

"If we see anyone writing graffiti we tell them to stop - it's pointless. We don't cause trouble; we just want to skate."

Stephen presented the petition to South Ribble councillor Janette Swain who vowed to take it to the local authority.

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