Skaters celebrate as the town council secures vital lottery funding to provide mobile skate park events in Kingsbridge.

Kingsbridge Town Council has been awarded £10,000 from Awards For All, a subsidiary of the Big Lottery Fund, to provide mobile skating events on the Quay for 12 months from April 1.

The exciting news was received at the Skate Park Committee meeting earlier this month.

Mobile skating events have been held bi-monthly on Monday evenings and have provided the town's skaters and BMX riders with the opportunity to practice their skills on bespoke equipment under the supervision of qualified personnel.

The equipment is being hired from North Cornwall District Council.

"Now that the Award For All funding has been made a full programme is being put together to hold further Monday evening events and Saturday afternoon events from early April onwards," the town council said in a press release.

Martin Johnson, Town clerk: "The Skate Park Committee has been working very hard to find a solution to the lack of skateboarding facilities in the town and the temporary events held on the Quay have been really successful to date."

"As soon as the programme is known it will be widely disseminated - so look out for posters and flyers."

The latest event was held on Monday 18 February and the next event is a six-hour session on Saturday 29 March from 11am to 5pm.

The events originally planned for the interim period have been suspended until the weather improves and the evenings become lighter.

Steve Bland, projects officer at North Cornwall District Council, said: "We love coming to Kingsbridge and always have a great time. The young people are really well behaved and the parents are so enthusiastic."

Town clerk Martin Johnson said: "I am really thrilled for the town's skate boarders that this award has been made.

"The Skate Park Committee has been working very hard to find a solution to the lack of skateboarding facilities in the town and the temporary events held on the Quay have been really successful to date.

"The award ensures we can hire-in skate park equipment over a 12-month period while continuing the search for a permanent skate park site."

Rufus Gilbert, district councillor and chairman of the Skate Park Committee, added: "I am delighted that the skate park events are now secure until autumn 2009, thanks to the £10,000 Awards For All monies.

"This now allows us more time to find, fund and build a permanent facility. I do hope the young people from Kingsbridge and the hinterland support the forthcoming events."