THE only skate park in Wyre Forest has finally shut its doors after almost three years of debt-ridden misery.

The Skate Shack, formerly Roll 'n' Ride, began turning skaters away last Monday after the present tenant threw in the towel.

Building owner Steve Morris, who unsuccessfully ran the park for 14 months, said there simply was not enough people willing to use the facility for it to work.

He said skateboarders were too content with using the town's car parks, streets and pavements to pay for the privilege of using the indoor facility, at Stadium Close, next to Kidderminster Harriers.

He said: "The kids want it open when it's raining and cold but as soon as the sun's out, or they don't have any money, they are back on the streets.

"I would call myself a reasonably successful business person and I struggled to keep it afloat."

The park was set to close in January when skate fanatic Steve Vranic came on board with an offer to keep it running.

But this week Mr Vranic said: "I have had enough. I have wasted a lot of time and money on the park. I put prices down and even that was not enough to get kids to come here."

The building opened as Roll'n'Ride in October 2000, attracting more than 500 boarders in the first week.

After 12 months the couple who first ran the facility, Jane and Guiseppe Belmonte, made their exit, leaving Mr Morris, in his own words, "holding the baby".

But it's not all doom and gloom for skaters.

Wyre Forest District Council is in the process of ordering mobile skate equipment which will soon be available to venues on request.

The council has also just published a report into suitable skate park locations - with Bewdley Leisure Centre top of the list.

Wyre Forest Community Housing is also starting a consultation process among youngsters in Offmore and Comberton about what facilities they want to see at the Borrington Road playing fields - a move which could see a skate park built on the site.