Put the wheels in motion, say skaters.

Good news may be on the way for skateboarders hoping to get the wheels rolling on skate park plans.

Skaters in Morpeth are fed up of having to practise in car parks and other public spaces. They and their parents have raised pounds 12,000 for a skate park and this week the campaign got a pounds 10,000 boost from Castle Morpeth Borough Council.

Morpeth Town Council, which launched the skate park project two years ago, now has pounds 45,000 to fund it.

One big problem has been finding a site. Morpeth photographer Michelle Fowler, of the Wheels and Co parents' group backing the skate park plan, said: "We need a central site in Morpeth, where parents know their youngsters are safe.

"Part of an existing car park would be perfect, because there would be lighting and CCTV." Michelle's son Mark, 14, said: "There are loads of us who like skateboarding in Morpeth, but at the moment we have to use the Market Place, the bandstand in Carlisle Park and car parks because there is nowhere else." But Morpeth Town Council clerk Chris Beattie had good news yesterday.

He said he was having talks with consultants involved in the pounds 2.5m Four Castles project along the Wansbeck and they were very enthusiastic about a skate park next to Morpeth Library.