Work has got underway on a new £475,000 skate park on Scarborough's North Bay in North Yorkshire, after the scheme received a grant of £60,000 from Sport England.

Hairy Bob's Skate Park is expected to take 16 weeks to complete, and will include a large concrete bowl, a street course and a dirt-type BMX track incorporating jumps and berms for both BMX and mountain bikes. The scheme, led by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC), forms part of improvements to the town's Royal Albert Park, which also includes the creation of a new children's play area, wildflower meadows and a fitness trail.

SBC has contributed £283,000 to the project, developed in partnership with Skate 4 Scarborough, a group formed by local bikers and skaters, while £72,000 has been secured through Section 106 agreements with Maverick Industries, which is designing and building the new facility. North Yorkshire County Council's community fund has also contributed £59,000 towards the scheme £59,000, with Skate 4 Scarborough raising the remaining £1,000. Representing the group, Ste Asquith, said: "The final award from Sport England means our dream for Hairy Bob's Skate Park can now become a reality.

"We have worked really hard over the last three years to fundraise for and design this park." Russ Holbert, Maverick Industries director, added: "Maverick has worked closely with the local skaters and riders to create a cutting edge skate park design to put Scarborough on the map. This facility will have a perfect balance of street and bowl elements and with a finish that is world-class."

Image: Scarborough Borough Council/Maverick Industries