A HUGE community effort and £50,000 in Lottery cash will help turn a West Devon skate park into a modern new facility.

Work has started on a new skate park for Moretonhampstead, with a metal fabricator and designer beginning construction on the ramps and jumps for the park.

The £50,000 from the Big Lottery came as part of the Open Spaces fund, which helps communities provide much-needed parks and attractions for residents. Local skaters have helped to design the park, which has had additional space provided by a local farmer.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride, who visited the site and discussed the work going on there, said: 'This is a real community effort and a brilliant example of a community pulling together to do something for its young people.

'I am really looking forward to seeing the end result and coming back in the following months to see how all the hard work has paid off.'

The current skate park is 15 years old and was built by local skaters and their families. Next to the playing fields, it has a BMX track and a number of jumps and pipes.

The new design includes more testing jumps and modern pieces of equipment.

The park's base will be of power-floated concrete construction which is smooth and fast, and safer to skate on than the existing tarmac.

The new park will be open for the summer.