IT'S TAKEN five years of dedicated campaigning, a letter to the Prime Minister and even a world record - but finally they've done it.

Teenagers from Bishop's Waltham have shed blood, sweat and tears getting their long-awaited skatepark built.

They are celebrating after parish councillors formally agreed on a site this week.

Joel Spaven, 18, of Kestrel Close, was just 13 when he wrote to Tony Blair saying how much he and his friends needed somewhere to practise their boarding and biking skills.

Since then, he and his friends have spent hours fundraising, campaigning and publicising in a bid to show the parish council their commitment.

Although it's taken half a decade to get there, councillors have pledged to spend £77,000 on a new facility at Priory Park in Elizabeth Way.

Joel, who helped put the village on the skateboarding map by building the longest skateboard in the world in 2003, said he was thrilled by the decision.

"It's definitely all been worth it. I'm well chuffed," he said.

"This is something we all need in the village. The parish council asked us to show them we were committed and we did what they asked and more."

Proud mum, Yvette, 45, said the teenagers were a remarkable group who had given up so much of their own time.

"They have worked so hard for this. They've been on TV, helped out with the carnival and raised more than £12,000 on their own.

"They are not angels but they are a great bunch and the future of this village."

The parish council has been criticised in the past for dragging its heels over the provision of the park.

The Daily Echo previously reported how youth club chairman Brandy Blunt was outraged that councillors kept putting the skatepark to the bottom of their list.

But parish council chairman, Gideon Lake said cash had only recently been made available through the open spaces fund.

Now the tables have turned and they are preparing to formally get approval for the site.

Parish council clerk Ziggy Skellen said: "I'm sure youngsters in the village will be pleased.

"I am not sure what the timescale will be but the next stage is to seek planning approval."