TOWN crier Alistair Chisholm is calling for a champion to come forward to help Dorchester's long-awaited skatepark get under way.

He said: "The skatepark project is currently sitting idle. It's not making progress.

"What it needs is a community champion to bring it forward. I am looking for a champion to do just that.

"It's got planning permission but that only lasts for another 18 months or so - we've got to make the most of that time to get it started."

He added: "You can't leave something like this to the kids. They do what they can but it needs a champion to make an impact and lead it.

"At the end of the day it just needs to get started before the current planning permission runs out."

The new skatepark is destined for Little Fairfield, a triangular-shaped piece of land off Weymouth Avenue next to the market site and near Maumbury Rings.

It is opposite Dorchester police station and also within an area earmarked for a gyratory system as a key part of Dorchester's proposed transport and environment plan, design-ed to ease congestion.

Miles Butler, director of environmental services at Dorset County Council, said earlier this year that the gyratory system could make the site unsafe for young people. He claimed the traffic issues would have to take precedent and the skatepark might need to go on an alternative site.

Campaigners vowed to press on and have continued with fundraising for the £130,000 project.

Inspector Les Fry of Dorset Police said today he wanted to see the skatepark up and running. He said: "This is a good place for the skatepark. It's right opposite the police station which is good for security and I'd like to see progress on it."

Detailed plans for the area are expected in January and would show the Maumbury Cross area and its effect of the skatepark site.

Anyone interested in taking on the skatepark challenge should contact deputy town clerk Steve Newman who is working with the skatepark steering committee on 01305 266861.