THERE were kick-flip’s and Ollie’s galore yesterday as Winchester welcomed its new skatepark.

Throughout the afternoon the spray concrete park was filled with up to 100 bikers, skaters and scooter riders, all intent on trying their tricks.

The £270,000 refurbishment at River Park replaced the outdated prefabricated metal ramps, and was designed by Maverick Industries and a team of local park users.

Among the skaters was Mike Curran, 30, a welder, of Winnall Manor Road. He said: “I love it. It’s good to have a decent skatepark in Winchester. I was going to move but this is keeping me here.”

Skaters of all ages lined up to have their turn on the new ramps, and for 10-year-old Josh Woodward, of Bereweeke Way, it was an afternoon well-spent.

“It’s a big improvement to what it was,” he said. “It feels a lot bigger and hopefully I can come down here quite a bit.”

The new park offers the latest in construction, with options for street and transition skating. It has been designed to allow users to create their own lines and encourage flow around the park, enabling users of all disciplines and abilities to share the same space.

In the crowd watching on was Stuart Jones, 39, a sales manager, of Appleshaw Close, Harestock. He said: “It’s great to see it so well-used and to keep the kids off the streets. They’ve done it really well.”

Cllr Jan Warwick, city council portfolio holder for environment, said: “This is a fabulous collaboration involving funding by the council, Sport England and Veolia Environmental Trust along with young people from the community helping with the design.

"I am so pleased we are able to promote a healthy lifestyle of exercise and enjoying the fresh air with a brand new facility for skateboarders, scooter and BMX riders.”

The Mayor of Winchester will officially open the skatepark on October 27.