YOUNGSTERS in a Suffolk village celebrated in style with an array of tricks and stunts to mark the official opening of a £40,000 skate park.The opening of the new facility at the recreational ground at Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, is the direct result of a five-year campaign initiated by youngsters in the village.

YOUNGSTERS in a Suffolk village celebrated in style with an array of tricks and stunts to mark the official opening of a £40,000 skate park.

The opening of the new facility at the recreational ground at Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, is the direct result of a five-year campaign initiated by youngsters in the village.

The park is the latest in a string of similar recreation facilities across the county.

Young skaters in Ipswich and Stowmarket have successfully lobbied for their own parks while a plan by Felixstowe teenagers is currently under consideration.

In 1998 a group of skateboard enthusiasts approached the parish council about the possibility of building a skate park.

In the end the young skaters managed to gain parish and district council grants to kick start the scheme, and more money was later donated by the Thetford based Keystone Community Partnership to unable the project to be completed.

Yesterday town dignitaries, parents and the youngsters all gathered at the site to mark to official opening.

Parish clerk Claire Skoyles said: "These has been a fantastic effort from the youngsters in the village. They first approached us in 1998 and never gave up.

"We hope the park will be a great success. We have had some problems with anti-social behaviour but we hope this facility will keep the youngsters occupied and off the streets."

Skateboader Simon Woodrow, 17, who helped lead the campaign for the park, said: "This is just brilliant, it is just what we wanted. There is a lot of skating fans in the village and the park will be well used."