Work to build a new �40,000 skate park in Downham Market is set to start early next year.

A design by Downham-based Highline Extreme for a skate park close to the Howdale Community Centre was approved by the town council earlier this week.

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

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

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

Cllr Jenny Groom proposed the motion at a full council meeting on Tuesday to pass the design which had been put forward by the town's skate park working party, chaired by town mayor Val Starling.

The working party had engaged with youngsters in the town before choosing the final design.

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.'