A MASSIVE grant of £50,000 has put a smile on the faces of youngsters campaigning for a skate park in Somerset.

Cheddar's Junior Local Action Team (LAT) won the money towards building the new facility in the village, which they now hope could be up-and-running by next year.

Excited members heard the good news on Friday, after giving a presentation on the project to a committee.

The money was rewarded by Somerset Youth Opportunity Fund, which gives out a total of £250,000 in grant money every year.

Somerset Youth Opportunity Funding is made available by the Government's department of children, schools and families.

The adult LAT's publicity officer, Julian Sayer, went to Taunton with the three junior members who gave the presentation.

Steve Sayer, aged 15, and Ollie Parrott and Adam Male, both aged 14, outlined their case to a board of young people and adults.

Ollie said: "We explained that we had been without a skate park for a while. We also told them about all the fund-raising we had been doing, such as arranging a skate demo in Wells."

Adam said: "We were really pleased when we found out we had the money. It will be a big boost to what we are trying to achieve."

Steve added: "We had to go in on our own without the adult LAT but we obviously did well. It was so exciting to get the money."

The grant means the total raised so far is £75,000 - about half of the money needed for the skate park at Sharpham Road Playing Fields.

The skate park will be split into three sections, which can be built as soon as money is available for each part.

Julian said: "We can now apply for match-funding from bodies such as the National Lottery.

"We really think that we can get the park open by summer 2010 and I am sure building work could start on phases one and two this year.

"The money will be a great boost and has really put a smile on our faces.