AFTER seven years of campaigning the largest skate park in Dorset has finally opened in Blandford.

The state-of-the-art facility is the first skate park in the country to feature the innovative RampSkin riding surface which creates less noise, is more durable and provides a superior grip to users.

And already hundreds of teenagers are queuing up at the weekends to use it.

The £160,000 facility at Stour Meadows has been spearheaded by Blandford Board and Blades group, made up of young people, and Blandford Town Council.

Blandford Board and Blades raised almost £20,000 towards the cost and were instrumental in designing the layout.

Other cash donors include the town council, the Community Safety Partnership, the Parochial Church Council of St Peter and St Paul in Blandford, the Police Partnership Trust and the Rotary Club.

The facility also boasts round the clock CCTV from neighbouring Hall and Woodhouse brewery, bench seats, bike parking facilities and litter bins.

Paul Williams, secretary of Blandford Board and Blades, said: "Seven years it has taken us but it looks fantastic - the kids worked hard for it and they love it."

Mayor Esme Butler, who officially opened the skate park said: "It's been a long time coming but the wait has been worth it.

"We have a fantastic skate park - the first in Britain with the RampSkin.

"Blandford Town Council is very pleased and very proud of the end product and we hope it will make many people happy."

The scheme has also had the full support of the police who claim that in the short time it has been used there has already been a marked reduction on anti-social problems in the town.

PC Rob Chalkley said: "It has had a very positive impact on the town's policing - we are not getting the calls about nuisance skateboarders or youths hanging round."