A NEW £45,000 skateboard park has been officially opened in Farnworth.

The park, at Blindsill Field between Ramsay Avenue and Macdonald Avenue, will be used not only by skateboarders but also by youngsters on bikes and using in-line skates.

Young people in Bolton who have complained for years about a lack of facilities will find ramps of different sizes for them to practise their tricks on.

A fun day was held yesterday afternoon to mark the official opening and was attended by more than 100 people.

Young members of Battra Boomwackers, a local musical group, performed before they cut the ribbon.

There was also a performance by Urban Strawberry Lunch and a workshop to design a sign for the new park. Teenagers and children also created graffiti designs which will be put on display.

Professional skateboarder Andy Scott, aged 29, who gave a demonstration, said: "This is a start. It is great that the children have got somewhere to practise."

Freddy Allen, aged 12, of Milton Crescent, Farnworth, who could not wait to get on the park, said: "It is brilliant. I think it will be well used."

Cllr Ray Stone said: "It is the culmination of a lot of work. Residents have been asking for years for such a facility and here it is. I just hope it is well used and the young people will look after it."