THE town's new £180,000 skate park has officially opened.

Skateboards, BMX bikes, scooters and roller blades are all welcome at the open-air concrete park, which has been designed and created by leading skate park construction firm Freestyle Skateparks.

The company also enlisted 12 young boarders and BMX riders from the town to help with the design.

The park, which cost £180,000, has been built on the site of the old park in Dawes Street, and measures 1,275 square metres — almost double the size of the previous facility.

Stephen Young, assistant director of development and regeneration, said: "It looks fantastic — I'm so pleased with how it has turned out, and the feedback we've had from skaters and BMX riders has been really positive.

"The unique thing about this skate park is that we enlisted the help of 12 young people when putting together the park's design.

"We had to bear in mind the conflicts of the different users at the park — the skateboarders like the rails, whereas the BMX riders prefer the ramps. We had to accommodate them all in the same area which I think we have done. There is a nice flow to the way it has been laid out.

"We did go over time due to the weather, but we have stayed in budget and thank the young people for their patience."

The old skate park opened in 2007 and due to its popularity, council chiefs decided to create a new park to cater for the increase in demand.

Bolton Council's cabinet member for culture and youth, Cllr John Byrne, said: "The old park was really popular but it got to a stage where it was just too small.

"The new one is a lot bigger and there are a lot more features in it. The young people helped to design it and hopefully they will like it.

"I hope we can encourage all the skaters in Victoria Square to come and use the park.

"It's in a good central location, it's free and it will benefit thousands of young people for years to come."