YOUNGSTERS who grouped together to build themselves a temporary skate park have pleaded with people to let them enjoy it for the summer holidays. Their plea follows an incident in which a man took pictures of them using the site before saying he planned t

YOUNGSTERS who grouped together to build themselves a temporary skate park have pleaded with people to let them enjoy it for the summer holidays.

Their plea follows an incident in which a man took pictures of them using the site before saying he planned to visit Fenland District Council to get the park demolished.

"We are doing nobody any harm down here," said one 13-year-old user of the artificial skate park close to West End Park in March.

"The police have been down here a couple of times and so have the fire service, to put out some small bonfires by a skater group which uses the ramps.

"You do get some shouting and swearing here, but it is just the same as the actual skate park (on West End Park near the town's George Campbell Leisure Centre)."

The first ramps were built on the wasteland close to the River Nene through the town about three years ago.

But youngsters as young as 11 grouped together a couple of months ago to build extra ramps and provide seating in the form of a couple of old sofas. They felt the ramps provided in West End Park were dangerous when they tried to use the facility alongside younger children.

March woman Susan Moden, whose son Scott was involved in the project, said: "They cleared this wasteland of metal, glass and concrete, made a few ramps and go there not doing anybody any harm."

"It is probably up for development, and they all understand that it will have to go if the council want to demolish it."

"But they are off the streets enjoying themselves, instead of doing graffiti or drinking. It is something for the six weeks' holiday to keep them occupied."

A Fenland Council spokesman said the temporary skate park was on private land over which the council had no jurisdiction.