REDDITCH Skatepark will be hosting its first major international BMX competition this weekend despite an arson attack at the venue last week.

Around £600 damage was caused to the Arrow Valley Park site after vandals set fire to one of the main ramps.

But fears the contest would not be able to go ahead this weekend have been quashed and organisers hope the event, which has attracted overseas interest, will prove a great success.

Steve Rooke, founder of Redditch Wheels Project, which saw the creation of the skatepark, said: "It's the Odyssey BMX Relax Jam Competition and it will run over two days.

"It will be the first big event we have held at the park. And the idea of the event is that it will be for beginners right up to professionals. It will not be like many of the other big competitions which can be quite intense."

Redditch Council staff have been racing against time to repair the damaged ramp and on Monday a Stratford based company was on site to begin the restoration work.

Redditch Council's Neil Stote said: "We are delighted that everything has come together and we will be able to run the Relax Jam 2001 event as planned.

"This will be our first major event at Redditch Skatepark and we are expecting hundreds of spectators along to see he very best BMX skills. It would have been a terrible shame if the vandals had won and we had to cancel, but we will be ready for the weekend."

Tickets cost £5 to ride and £2.50 to spectate. For more details call 524550.