YOUNGSTERS in Bradford on Avon have launched a Save our Skate park campaign after the town's existing facility was removed by Wiltshire Council following vandalism.

The council demolished the skate park at Poulton Recreation Field on Wednesday after saying it was unsafe to use.

Now two pupils from the nearby Fitzmaurice Primary School have launched a campaign and petition to ensure they get their skate park back.

They are urging Wiltshire Council to replace the skate park or work with the town council to choose a new location so they can skate again.

Sam Cole, 10, and Eva Jones, 10, met Bradford on Avon Town Council leader, Cllr Dominic Newton, on Saturday to ask him to support their campaign.

Sam said: “We have already phoned the council and are in the process of making posters.

“We will also be drawing up a Save our Skate Park petition and will be asking all our school friends to sign it.

“We want Wiltshire Council to replace the skate park or find us another location for a new one.”

The youngsters are also angry that the damage was caused by older children, claiming they had seen teenagers vandalising the equipment.

Cllr Newton said: “This has actually been an issue for some time, with Wiltshire Council having been warned about the state of the skate park. There’s no commitment from them, as far as I’m aware, to replace anything.”

Cllr Newton said the town is trying to engage youngsters through its new Youth Services strategy for Bradford on Avon and surrounding villages.

He’s planning to see whether the skate park can be moved closer to the town centre, so that children from all over Bradford on Avon can get to it more easily.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “The recent vandalism means the council has no choice but to remove the ramp altogether.

"There is now a blank canvas where the skate ramp used to be. This will allow the local community to identify their preference for any future play facility."

Cllr Newton says they will work with the children and Wiltshire Council on ideas for new play facilities and to see how new equipment can be provided and existing equipment maintained.