SKATERS and BMX bikers from all over Blackpool have landed on Planet X-treme - the town's brand new roller-skate facility in Stanley Park.

Youngsters have already been queuing to use the surface which was opened officially on June 13.

They were clamouring at the gates in the mornings and having to be dragged away at night time.

Planet X-treme was built by Blackpool Council in response to appeals from skaters, five of whom helped design and name it.

Carl Mason, Danny Peters, Andy Armstrong, Robert Lomas and Gavin Shaw, aged 14 to 16, all had a hand in the design, which includes two half-pipes, a fun box, a quarter-pipe and a grinding rail, suitable for use by in-line skaters, skateboarders and BMX bikers.

Now the kids call it the best in the area and councils as far afield as Scotland have expressed interest in emulating it.

Tourism and leisure chairman Councillor Roy Lewis, who performed the official opening, said: "Clearly there was a great need for this facility and it is a major attraction for the park.

"Until now, children have been practising in unsuitable areas which is a danger to themselves and to residents."

Signs advise children to wear full safety equipment, helmets, gloves and pads.

Concern heightened after a 10-year-old Blackpool skater was killed in March when he raced into the path of a car.

Other skaters have been caught hanging on to the back of trams.

The equipment was built on a redundant tennis court out of aluminium and timber by Blackpool firm Bri-Met, who hope to do similar work for other councils.

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