HUNDREDS of skate fans turned up the highly-anticipated launch event of Cirencester Skate Park on the weekend.

The new, and already popular, skate park at Kingshill Sports Complex opened to the public at the end of June.

But the ribbon was officially cut on Sunday with around 500 people travelling from far and wide to celebrate the new asset.

“It was an amazing day, for both Cirencester and UK skateboarding,” said organiser of the event Gaz from Decimal Skate Store. “Personally I just can’t thank Cirencester Town Council and Line Skate parks enough for making what was just a dream many years ago into reality.

“It is already become a massive deal for the town with people travelling up to three hours for the facility.”

The idea for a skate park in Cirencester came about eight years ago, yet construction only began in October 2013.

Now the £200,000 project, funded by Cirencester Town Council with support from Sport England, is finally complete and skateboarders of all abilities are able to enjoy the park.

Mayor of Cirencester Joe Harris said he was honoured to cut the ribbon on the big day.

“I really encourage everyone, young or old, to get their board and go up there,” he said. “This park is for the town. That has always been key. It’s great that people come from all over but it is for the town.”

The opening event was organised by Gaz as part of the annual Summer Off the Streets programme launched by Cotswold District Council and World Jungle.

“People came from Wales, Birmingham, London and further for the day,” Gaz added. “We hosted under 16’s, over 16’s and over 30’s best trick jams as well as a race and product toss.”

The young winners of the BandB Innovations bin design competition also attended to check out the brand new, funky bin they had designed.

Jessica Gorton from Kingshill School and Felix McClafferty from Deer Park both won the competition and designed a bin supplied by the Cirencester company for the new park.

Visitors on the day enjoyed testing out the new ramps and taking part in competitions while also enjoying burgers and hot dogs from Jesse Smith’s.