BUILDING work will start on Melksham's £100,000 skate- park this weekend after plans were rubberstamped on Wednesday.

West Wiltshire District Council approved the plans this week, ending an anxious wait for campaigners.

Yvonne Ashe, who along with Janice Viveash and a group of young skateboarders, has worked tirelessly to raise funds for the new park, said: "Kids are really excited that work is about to start."

"They were getting anxious because they thought it was never going to happen. Now they are upbeat again."

More than £18,000 is still needed to finish the project at the King George V playing field, but two outstanding grants, including a possible £26,000 from the charity Living Spaces, could cover the shortfall.

Volunteers, including skateboarders and parents, will donate their services during the construction phase, saving thousands of pounds, and Huna Designs has agreed to build the skatepark itself.

Companies including Bloor Homes, have also donated money, and Mrs Ashe hopes the skatepark will be ready to use before Christmas.

"It will take two weeks to dig out and surface the skatepark and then the ramps will be put in place," she said.

"Fencing and lighting will then go in followed by planting and landscaping."

As soon as the skatepark is complete a committee will be formed to help maintain it and protect it from vandalism.

Mrs Ashe said: "It will be made up of some of the skateboarders who will be able to tell us if they have any problems."

Cllr Ernie Clark, the district council's leisure and rural affairs portfolio holder, backed the project, saying: "Rather than expect the council to conjure up money out of people's council tax payments they knew what they wanted, rolled up their sleeves and got on with it."