A PETITION has been launched in a bid to save a popular skate park.

The Empire Skatepark, which is based on Global Park, Eastgates, Colchester, closed on Friday after five years trading.

A post on the park’s Facebook page from owners Lewis and Harry announced the news.

It said: “A couple of months ago at the final stage of completing a new lease our landlords changed hands leaving us floating without one until now.

“We’ve been keeping up with all payments but heard very little from them.

“Thursday morning by changing our locks and taping a notice on the door, they let us know that they want us out in the next 12 days.

“We’ve only been allowed in once today to remove our stock and any valuables.

“It’s come as a real shock to us all and been a crazy 24 hours.”

However, despite an outpouring of support for the skatepark, the owners have said they have not yet decided if they will be looking to open elsewhere.

One skateboarder Henry Webster, 16, and from Birch, said the park provided a valuable service and was a major loss to the community.

He said: “Empire has been a second home to a huge number of kids and teens in Colchester.

“It has always been a safe place and the fact there is such a close knit community down there, just adds to how special the place really is.

“A lot of people including parents and teenagers will be very sad to see it close.

“Harry and Lewis the owners, make everyone feel welcome down there.”

Leo Cook, 14, and from Tollesbury, runs skateboarding supply company Quartzco.

He has started a petition calling on Colchester Council to save the park from closure.

That petition gained more than 2,400 signatures in just over a day and is still growing.

Leo said: “Overnight the petition just blew up.

“The Empire has a real family feel about it.

“Some people go there every single day of the week because they love it so much.

“Everyone trusts and helps each other so much there.”

Emma Shannon-Munday, 45, of Hornbeam Close, Colchester, said her family was devastated by the news.

She said: “We spend at least three sessions a week at Empire, my son also has a scooter lesson.

“My husband has just taken up skateboarding again, after a 20 year absence, because of the encouragement from Lewis and Harry.

“Empire is an amazing, safe, supportive, friendly family and without it so many children and young adults are left with nowhere safe to entertain themselves.

“When we heard the news tears were shed.”

Debbie Munson, from West Mersea, has spoken to Colchester’s MP Will Quince, councillors and is hoping to get celebrities like Olly Murs, Ed Sheeran and Matt Cardle involved in the campaign to save the park.

She said: “It is an amazing place for kids, teenagers and adults.

“There are no boundaries there. If my two boys have a problem with English or Maths Lewis and Harry will help.

“Through all of that work they were going to turn the Empire into a charity so they could reach out to more people.”

The Gazette contacted landlord Petchey Holdings Plc, which owns the building, to ask if the skatepark had been asked to move on and if so why.

No-one replied at the time of going to press.

To sign the petition, go go bit.ly/2jP7jMX.