A NEW skate park was due to be officially opened at the Link Centre today.

The park was built by young skateboarders and their parents who were sick of having nowhere to go. The temporary park is based in the Link Centre's coach park and will be open on Monday and Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

The equipment can be easily stored and skaters hope the six month experiment will persuade councillors to invest in a permanent park similar to the popular venue in Chippenham. The idea for the park came from West Swindon youth worker, Caroline Starling, who helped the youngsters plan and build the equipment.

Skater Jason Kelly, 14, of Grange Park said: "We started work on it last summer so we are all really looking forward to the opening.

"People think that if they open a skate park we will cause trouble but that's not true at all, all we want to do is skate."