Plans for a new �40,000 skate park in Downham Market were given the go-ahead by the town council last night.

Members sitting at the full council meeting last night unanimously agreed on a final design for the skate park which will be built on the field next to the Howdale Community Centre.

It comes almost four years after the town's last skate park at the Memorial Playing Field was torn down because of safety concerns.

Proposing a motion to pass the final design, Jenny Groom said: 'Following on from a lot of hard work and research, we have an opportunity of having a town skate park assembled.

'I would like to assure members everything has been done properly and we need full council to accept this quotation from Highline Extreme which will give us an excellent skate park in the town.'

She added: 'It has been a long journey getting to this point, which all started with a letter from a young person a long time ago.'

A working party, chaired by town mayor Val Starling, had engaged with youngsters in the town before choosing the final design by Downham-based Highline Extreme.

Funding for the �40,000 project has come from not-for-profit business WREN, Downham Market Town Council, West Norfolk Council and Downham Skaters and Riders.

After councillors agreed the skate park design, councillor John Doyle said: 'I would like to thank the mayor for all her hard work on this.'

Colin Hawes, managing director at Highline Extreme, said he was delighted by the council's approval.

Explaining his decision to bid for the contract, he said: 'I really wanted to see a good skate park in Downham Market and ensure the kids here have the best skate park for the money.'

He also said work to build the skate park could start after Christmas or as late as March, depending on the winter weather.

david.blackmore@archant.co.uk