A SUCCESSFUL project to keep bored teenagers out of trouble has been been expanded in Burnley.

A Teenzone skate park and kickabout area at Sunny Clough, in Rossendale Road, will be officially launched on Thursday, July 31, and is aimed at providing teenagers with somewhere to spend their free time.

The venue, which mirrors similar Teenzone schemes aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour across Burnley, was chosen after skateboarders had been banned from using the bandstand in the town centre following complaints from shoppers and local businesses.

Offering space for skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX riders, the park is the result of a long period of consultation between local residents, community group Education Learning Activity Centre (ELAC) and Burnley Council's parks services unit.

The Teenzone initiative, managed by Burnley Council, aims to improve facilities for young people across the borough following a task force report on facilities for teenagers published three months ago.

Since then work has started to upgrade ball courts in Abel Street, Daneshouse and Every Street in Trinity. These projects are aimed at 11 to 20-year-olds and includes facilities being created at Piccadilly Gardens, Healey Wood and Burnley Wood.

The Sunny Clough facility will also include a new asphalt kickabout area, basketball hoop and grass football pitch.

Councillor Barry Guttridge, portfolio holder for leisure, will join local children and adults for the launch and ELAC has organised a colouring competition to decide which children will share the pride of cutting the ribbon.

Simon Goff, parks services manager, said: "The new Teenzone at Sunny Clough is part of a borough-wide project to improve recreation facilities for teenagers and addresses needs that were identified in the recent Best Value review of parks."

ELAC was originally set up by residents from Griffin, Barclay and Holmestrand estates who recognised there was a need for somewhere that children and young people could go. The group is now trying to secure funding for floodlights at the park.

Teenzones are funded by Burnley Council, European funding, the neighbourhood renewal fund and private developers.