Campaigning youngsters are celebrating after more than �78,000 of funding was signed off to revamp Gorleston's 'inadequate' skate park.

Users of the popular park within the town's recreation ground have been pushing for years for the wooden ramps to be improved.

The wooden equipment often fractures making it difficult for skaters, scooters and BMXers to ride over them and their hollow structure also increases the noise of passing wheels, which has sparked complaints from nearby residents.

But youngsters' calls have now been answered after Great Yarmouth Borough Council agreed to plough �78,695 into completely renovating the park.

Designs for the new park, which will feature ramps, jumps and a quarter pipe made of concrete that will cut down on noise, have already been drawn up with input from youngsters and it is hoped the work will start before Christmas.

Marlene Fairhead, councillor for St Andrews ward, has been campaigning with fellow Gorleston member Barbara Wright to get the park overhauled.

She said: 'I think the children will be so, so pleased. It's wonderful news and it will be good for the youngsters because it's used a lot. It's getting the work it deserves.

'We're also chasing to get the community centre upgraded to make better use of that whole green area.'

The work will be split into two phases with the funding being drawn from section 106 monies and accumulated interest.

Bernard Williamson, councillor for Claydon ward, also helped push the project forward and was pleased to see the 106 money - which has sat 'in the pot' for a number of years - being invested.

'The park is in a really prominent place and it's accessible from the Shrublands and Magdalen estates and it gets lots of use so it's really positive news,' he added.