WORK began this week on a skate board park for Lyme Regis - and skateboarders themselves will be putting in the elbow grease to get the park up and running within a fortnight.

Contractors Double R Ramp Construction, who built Bridport's indoor skate park the Trick Factory, have been chosen by Lyme Regis Town Council to build the new park in the town's Lister Gardens. And boss Robert Ridge as pledged to get the project rolling in super-quick time.

He said: "I want to get it done as soon as I can to show that these systems can work. It will be fantastic when it's done and the council have been very decisive and helpful all the way."

Mr Ridge, 33, has already put up a few structures in the park, which will be a multi use park for skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX bikers.

And skateboarders from Lyme Regis will be helping him with construction work after the youth service, headed by senior youth worker for West Dorset Arthur Woodgate, agreed to insure young people, so they can be a part of the process.

Mr Ridge, who is a BMX biker himself, said: "They won't be wielding power tools, but hopefully they will be helping with some of the easier jobs."

He added: "It's not going to be a big park, but hopefully it will be an opportunity for people to watch and learn more about skating. I'm still riding my bike as well as I ever have and it just goes to show it's no longer just a young person's sport, it's a serious sport that people do in to middle age, like football."

Town clerk Mike Lewis said the council had taken tenders from a number of firms, but Double R had shone out because of its commitment to involve young people.

He said: "This way it involves them, so hopefully they will take care of it. This is a different sort of approach."

Mr Lewis said the youth service would also be working with skateboarders to produce a code of conduct which would ensure skateboarders were respectful of other people.

Senior youth worker for Mr Woodgate said: "This follows an extensive consultation period with young people in Lyme Regis and ensures they will be involved. It is part of an expanding youth work project in the town."

The park will cost the town council in the region of £4,000 to build.

Skateboarders have also raised £450 towards the project and Lyme Regis Development Trust has re-applied for additional grant funding from the district council.

The park will be inspected by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents before it can be opened. Town councillor Daryl Turner said the council was pleased the park was finally being built and there would be an official ceremony soon. He said: " There has to be - it's been such a long time coming!"

He added: "We hope the kids look after the place and respect it for what it is. It's up to them now, we've done our bit."