Youngsters in Rhyl can use the skatepark from June

Skaters in Denbighshire are a step nearer to having the biggest skatepark in north Wales.

Work on the �160,000 venue began on Monday and is expected to be completed by the end of June.

The park is the first of a number of plans drawn up to revamp the seaside resorts promenade.

Youngsters have been involved with planning the skatepark from the beginning.

In February more than 150 people attended a public meeting to view presentations of the wheeled sports facilities.

The �160,000 park will be built underneath the sky tower

The area beneath Rhyl's sky tower will be transformed with ramps, rails, fun boxes and pipes to create a venue for roller sports enthusiasts.

Denbighshire councillor Mike German said the new park will give youngsters a secure playing area.

"This really has been a successful community venture," he said.

"Lots of young people, many from the West Rhyl Young People's Project, have actively been involved in getting this off the ground.

Deprived areas

"I am proud of the way they have worked with us and I am looking forward to seeing the first skaters use the park."

The money has been made available through the Welsh assembly's 'Communities First' initiative, a regeneration scheme targeting the most deprived areas of Wales.

Funding has also been used to create priority policing areas, improve the late night economy and clean up the town centre of Rhyl.

In February, a �27,000 skatepark was opened in Prestatyn.

The scheme was the first to be built in Denbighshire.