CAMPAIGNERS who brought a skateboard park to Melksham are determined the anti-social behaviour of some youngsters will not ruin it for others.

In a recent attack next to the new site, a 33-year-old man was left with a broken nose and eye socket after being set upon by a gang of four youths.

Campaigner Yvonne Ashe said: "There hasn't been any trouble inside the park or between the skateboarders but there are other groups of kids who have nothing to do with skating that might go down there to cause trouble."

The King George V playing fields and the Somerfield car park next to the skateboard park have long been meeting places for boy racers and underage drinkers.

The skateboard park has already been targeted by vandals who smashed glass bottles over the site.

Sgt Mike White, of Melksham police, said: "It is a very small minority of people who are keen to cause problems wherever they go.

"Somerfield car park has always been a hang out for boy racers and the park and adventure centre are also hang outs. We have targeted the area a number of times in the past for people drinking alcohol.

"The vast majority of people are there to have a good time with their mates but unfortunately there are a small minority who will cause problems."

The police are working with those involved with the skateboard park and the town council to tackle any problems at the site and there are plans to set up a management committee to oversee the area.

Nicki Coyne, from Melksham 1st, said: "The last thing we want is that skatepark getting a bad reputation because of one or two individuals."

The skateboard park has been fitted with floodlights that enable skaters to use it for longer, but are on a timer to minimise disruption to nearby residents and to try and deter youths from hanging around the site.

The park was welcomed by many people in the town as something that targets teenagers and gives them something to do and somewhere to go.

Melksham has long had a problem with bored youngsters hanging around in the town centre and on estates in the area, vandalising property, fighting and intimidating passers by.

Youths have been blamed for vandalising phone boxes and public benches, smashing windows and setting light to hedges in the town.

The situation has been made worse by the lack of things for young people to do in the town.

Problems in recruiting and retaining youth workers mean the youth caf has had to reduce its opening hours to one night a week and the youth club has been forced to reduce the number of hours it operates.