DISILLUSIONED Bidford children could turn to crime if the village's skateboard park is not allowed to open unsupervised.

The warning came from former parish councillor David Goodyear, after residents blasted the Salford Road half-pipe ramp for only being open when it could be supervised, as laid down in the insurance negotiated for the facility by Bidford Parish Council.

Mr Goodyear told Monday's annual parish meeting he resigned from the council because of its inability to do anything for the young of the village.

He added: "Bidford is very, very close to creating a problem for itself because nothing is done the way it suits the customer."

Resident Gillian Whitehouse, said: "The summer holidays are coming up and a lot of youngsters have skateboards. Can't something be done to keep it open for a longer length of time?"

Residents and councillors spoke of successful unsupervised skateboard parks in Alcester, Hampton Lucy and Cheltenham.

Mr Goodyear, said: "Most district councils don't have this problem, so why do the parish council?

"The village has got to be looking after its young people. Look after them, and they will be able to look after the village in the future."

John Wilkes, secretary of Bidford Angling Club, said his grandson and friends came up with the idea of having a key at the filling station next door, which could then be signed for and returned by children wishing to use the ramp.

He added: "Children are very disillusioned because at the moment the skateboard park is an utter waste of time."

Chairman William Moore, said the terms of the insurance stated that the park could only be opened when it was supervised, but added that the council would make inquiries.