A GROUP of Horwich youngsters are demanding a skate park is built in the town -- as they are fed up with having to travel to Bolton with their roller blades.

Matthew Taylor, of Mort Street, felt so strongly about the lack of skating facilities in Horwich that he got together with brother Daniel and pals Craig Smith and Liam Hurst to collect signatures on a petition which they presented to Horwich Town Council.

The teenagers say the skate park in Gilnow Lane, Bolton, is too far from Horwich and transport is often a problem for many youngsters who have to catch two buses to get there.

Matthew, aged 14 and his pals, who are all 13 years old and pupils at Rivington and Blackrod High School, hope the Town Council will consider the idea of building an indoor skate park in the town as skating and skateboarding are popular pursuits among dozens of youngsters in Horwich.

The young skaters recently attended a Horwich Town Council meeting where they presented their petition, including more than 200 signatures, to councillors and Matthew made a short speech.

Matthew told the BEN: "It was quite scary speaking at the council meeting, but we're glad we went.

"Some of us go to the skate park in Bolton about every three weeks, but it is quite expensive for us if we have to pay for buses to get there.

"This indoor skatepark would provide jobs for people to work there. Also, it wouldn't get vandalised, so the council wouldn't be wasting their money."

Matthew's mum, Andrea Taylor, said: " I was surprised when they said they had started a petition because they did it on their own.

"But they are all really into skating and my two have roller blades as well as skate boards, so they really need somewhere to go nearby that is manned."

Cllr Barbara Ronson said: "It might be a bit ambitious to think about having a covered skate park, but we were all interested in the idea and it is intimidating for young people to come to a town council meeting, so they did well.

"Horwich Town Council will be forwarding the proposal to Leisure Services, but there is no idea for a location yet."