SKATEBOARDERS in Cleobury Mortimer are celebrating after being handed a major cash grant which will soon bring a specialist park to the village.

As last week's news of the demise of Kidderminster's Skate Shack reached fans of the sport, youngsters in the village are eagerly awaiting their chance to try out a £24,000 facility to be built at Lacon Childe School.

The skatepark will be finished by the end of July thanks to a final cash boost of £10,000 from South Shropshire District Council.

The outdoor facility will be built on an area around the tennis courts at the school and will remain open 24 hours a day.

Teacher Richard Meredith, who has spent a year working with pupils to get a skatepark at the school, said: "The children are really pleased. They have been waiting for somewhere to go and I suspect it will be very popular for children throughout Cleobury Mortimer."

Mr Meredith said the park would keep boarders safe and help reduce damage to their regular haunts.

He said: "Young people need a safe place to skate in Cleobury Mortimer. Previously they used the school grounds which damaged paths, kerbs, steps and branches. If they were not there they would use the main road."

The grant money comes from a deal struck with developers of the Larks Rise housing development in the village.

The full cost has been met by the Hanson Trust, the district council and money raised by the school.