Youngsters in Braintree have been urged to help make a new skate park become a reality.

An action group has invited all the town's youths to a meeting in the Braintree Foyer to try to find out what equipment they would like to see in the park.

The group will also be encouraging youngsters to start holding fundraising events to help finance the project.

Members of the working party have already won overwhelming support for the scheme after carrying out surveys and receiving a number of petitions.

But they want to see enthusiasm for the idea matched by efforts to raise money for equipment.

Possible sites for the park being investigated include land by the Riverside Swimming Pool and the John Ray Recreation Ground off Coggeshall Road. Organisers hope to announce a final decision next week.

Sgt Bob Bell, leader of the working party, said the onus was on youngsters to show enthusiasm for the scheme.

He added: "We're looking to get support from youngsters in holding fundraising events such as a Battle of the Bands night during the Summer.

"But youngsters have got to show enthusiasm otherwise the local authority won't support the idea.

"It will be their facility so they have to take a big interest in making it happen. The working party will give as much assistance as they need."

Braintree resident Frank Stafford, who came up with the idea for a skate park, said he expected the facility to be "the size of a football pitch".

He added: "I think that once we're clear on what the youngsters want we can march forward with the scheme. We can get costings for the equipment and then we'll know how much money we need to raise."

Financial contributions will also be sought from various companies. Supermarket giants Sainsbury and Tesco have pledged their support for the scheme.

The meeting at Braintree Foyer will take place on Wednesday May 26 at 7pm.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.