Ledbury'S Kickflip Skatepark has been officially opened by the town's mayor and the young skateboarder who named it.

Coun Keith Francis and 11-year-old Joss Ford cut the ceremonial ribbon at the £60,000 facility last Saturday.

Also at the event was carnival princess Chloe Hawkins with her attendants Kimberley Bricknell and Jade Gibson.

The skatepark, at the southern end of the Recreation Ground, provides skateboarders, inline skaters and BMXers from Ledbury and the surrounding area with purpose-built ramps and obstacles on which to practice their skills. A grind rail will be added to the park in the near future.

On Saturday, drinks and sweets were served up for the 50 or 60 youngsters who turned up to ride the ramps, which were built by Ledbury firm Huna.

The project was funded by Ledbury Town Council, the Market Towns' Initiative and KingsOak, the developer currently building on the former abattoir site off The Homend. Each provided £20,000.

Joss Ford, a pupil at The Elms School in Colwall, said he chose the name for the park after seeing the competition advertised in the window of the council building. The park is named after a skateboard trick.

He said the opening day had been brilliant.

"It's a big improvement to Ledbury, I'm very happy," said Joss.

Coun Francis said the riders who had turned up were pleased with the ramps. He said: "They can now concentrate their skills on using the park rather than the streets."

Coun Francis said there were plans among users of the park to hold fundraising events to add a halfpipe ramp, the cost of which could not be covered by the money available.

The council now plans to improve facilities for younger users of the Recreation Ground.