PERSHORE skaters say problems caused by their sport will be a thing of the past if a skatepark is built for them in the town.

Youngsters on skateboards and roller-blades congregate around St Andrew's Church and the Co-op car park to skate but their hobby has sparked complaints about safety and damage to buildings.

Momentum is now growing in the town to build a £33,000 skatepark in Abbey Park, which supporters say will solve the problems caused by skating.

Wychavon district and Pershore town councillor John Grantham said there is a real will to move the project forward. "We have now located a good proportion of the money that would need to be spent. We are also getting closer to solving the problem of the site. Things are falling into place - but it will not happen over night."

A large proportion of the money could come from the developers of Cherry Orchard House. As part of a legal agreement for allowing the residential home to expand, a sum of money is being given to the town to improve open spaces. This fund could account for more then half the cost of the project.

Skaters themselves say they will use the park if it is built and will help to maintain it. Rollerblader Jack Brant, aged 12, said: "We would look after it and report anyone damaging it. I would use it every day for practice, especially in the holidays." Skateboarder Charlie McGorrigan, aged 11, also said he would confine his skating to the skatepark. "If there was a skatepark we would use it and stop getting into trouble around the town."

Roller-blader Matt Walker, aged 12, said none of his friends wanted to annoy people with their hobby. "I am fed up with being told off - we just need somewhere we are allowed to go."

Many parents are backing the scheme. Deborah McGorrigan, of Masons Ryde, said: "As a resident of the town I am aware of the problems caused by skaters - but if they had somewhere to go in the park there would not be any problems."

Debi Allsop, of Three Springs Road, added that skating was a good activity for children. "It is a really healthy thing for them to do," she said. "They are getting fresh air and exercise and they are not sitting in front of a computer screen - but where can they do it safely?"

Dave Wood, of Farleigh Road, said he had been campaigning for a skatepark for years. "We even got as far as getting Lottery money once but every time we find a site there seems to be problems. There is always somebody who complains no matter where it is. It is very frustrating."

Pershore Mayoress Val Wood said she wanted to get youngsters more involved in the skatepark project. A meeting was held on Monday night to discuss setting up a Pershore skate club and councillor Wood has called on skaters to sign a petition supporting the scheme. "We need them to tell us that they will use the park and will look after it," she said.

Copies of the petition are available in the new town council offices on the High Street.