BUILDING work has started on a £280,000 skatepark and youth facility at Leigh Marshes.

The project is expected to be completed before the summer, when teenagers will be able to practice their moves without disrupting residents.

It became possible after £150,000 funding was provided by the national lottery, £80,000 by Leigh Town Council, and £20,000 from the youth council's Fix It fund.

This was topped up with donations from other sources, including Vie bar in the Broadway, Leigh.

A design was then chosen from a selection of three options, which were presented to local youngsters to vote for their favourite.

It will include basketball nets, football pitches and shelters for youngsters to hang out and chat.

Leigh Town councillor Pat Holden said they had spent years trying to get the project up and running and were looking forward to the fruits of their labour.

She added: "We were told it would be up and running before the school holidays and hope that this will give local youth some where to have a good time and we hope they will be enthusiastic and there will be plently of them down there."