SKATER boys and girls in Kendal are now enjoying practising their tricks again after South Lakeland District Council carried out urgent repairs to the town's Beezon Road skate park.

The skate park has been officially re-opened by the council and boasts new features after two ramps regularly used by Kendal youngsters were improved due to wear and tear.

Back in August, our sister paper, The Westmorland Gazette, reported how dozens of disgruntled teenagers formed a blockade at the entrance to the skate park after council staff removed the equipment.

Just hours after collecting their GCSE results, the 16-year-olds were left with nowhere else to "skate and chill out" during the summer holidays. At the time, SLDC said it owned the land but that it had not put the equipment on the site. Insurers had visited the site and condemned the equipment as being unsafe because there were nails sticking out in a number of places.

The ramps have had a special metal sheet surfacing applied to improve wear and tear, while platforms have also been added to make it easier to use the ramps.

Coun Peter Thornton, portfolio holder for communities and wellbeing at SLDC, said: "South Lakeland District Council is delighted to re-open this very popular skate park following essential repairs which will make it easier and safer for youngsters to use."