With the recent announcement that Seaton skatepark will undergo a dramatic renovation, following investment from East Devon District Council - a mother from Ottery St Mary contacted Nub News to explain how her son was involved with building the original park.

She hopes the story might inspire other young people - in Ottery St, for example, where they may lose their park to developers - to follow in his footsteps and be instrumental in constructing something similar.

Josefina Gori, who lives in Ottery St Mary, explained: "My son George, who is now 39, has been involved in cycling from a very young age.

"He used to compete in mountain biking and later on was part of the British Bike Trial Team (with famous figures, such as Martyn Ashton).

"We were living in Seaton then, and he used to train on Seaton seawall, on the boulders in Sidmouth and wherever he could.

"Of course the police were always calling me (especially when he jumped from the roof of a telephone box on the seafront) to tell me he was not allowed to do that.

"One day he got fed up with it and decided to put to the council - the idea of the skatepark so he and his mates (also part of the team) could have a 'legal' place to train.

"They got together and my son, who has tremendous experience on how a skate park should look, wrote a project which included a design of the park with the different ramps, etc.

"They attended a town council meeting and the councillors were so impressed with their enthusiasm, knowledge and love of the sport that they decided to back them and get the money for it.

"A few of the councillors joined forces with my son and his team and after many meetings, with architects etc., they got the skate park that has served kids in the area for many years.

"As my son said, when I told him about the new one: 'It's nice that we started something that has survived and helped create some talented riders - it's great that it will now see a regeneration!'"

She added: "I think it's a good story to make young people believe that they can get involved with and be successful in creating something that they aim for."