WORK has begun on the long-awaited skateboard park in Stallard Recreation Ground, Trowbridge.

Contractors WG Dell and Son arrived on Monday to start flattening out the land before skate park experts Bendcrete start work on the £126,000 project.

Shirley Raw, community support officer at Trowbridge Town Council, said: "We are absolutely thrilled it's finally going ahead because we have been talking about it for years. It's been a lot of hard work."

The park will measure 36 metres by 15 metres and will include 11 concrete ramps, which are not as noisy as metal ramps.

Funding for the park has been provided by the town, district and county councils, the Local Network Fund, National Lottery and the skateboard committee.

Trowbridge Town Council's newly appointed leisure and activities development officer James Wain said he was looking forward to getting more people involved in skateboarding.

"Now we've got the facilities, it's good to get young people into different types of sport. Not everyone likes football," he said.

The decision by West Wiltshire District Council to grant planning permission for the skate park proved controversial as many residents were against the idea because of concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour.

A mound will be built around the park to block out noise while two CCTV cameras already monitor the area.

Work is due to be completed in 11 weeks, depending on the weather. An opening ceremony will be held which will include displays by local skateboarders.