New seating installed at Sele Park, Hexham's skatepark

The Sele Park in Hexham saw new seating installed for its skatepark on September 27 by Hexham Town Council with the support of Prudhoe-based firm, Bespoke Concrete Products.

Hexham East ward councillor Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, chair of community engagement, said: "It was super-exciting to help install the new skatepark seating for Hexham Town Council - with the kind donations from a local firm, Bespoke Concrete Products, who polished them up and rounded them off for us too.

The new seating at the Sele Park (Image: Supplied) "Finally, tired parent-spectators will get a place to park their weary bones, and the skaters will have a leisure place to hang out. One of the older skaters told me that over the years the skatepark had 'kept him on the straight and narrow' and that without it he wouldn't be the person he is today. Such is the power of the park.

The town council hopes local children will take ownership of the blocks and make them as colourful as possible (Image: Supplied) "The Bespoke Concrete team were absolutely amazing, especially getting the lorry with the five-tonne weight blocks through the narrow Sele archways - my heart was in my mouth."

She added members of Hexham Youthy went to test the new seats after school and 'had the best Friday fun jumping off them'.

Ellen Jenkins from Hexham Youthy said: "The seats are a great addition to the skate park. Both the youngsters and the parents absolutely love them. Thank you to everyone who’s made it possible."

The new seating was installed on September 27 (Image: Supplied) Cllr Fairless-Aitken added: "Hexham Town Council is hoping that the kids take full ownership of them - making them as colourful as possible - in typical skatepark fashion. We now need to focus on the revamp of the play park itself and others in town in time for next spring and summer."

Chris Wigmore, owner of Bespoke Concrete Products, said: "Having spent time in the skate park with my family, I wanted to do something to provide seating for the area as there was clearly a need.

"As a local business, manufacturing precast concrete, it was something we could easily achieve. The product supplied will hopefully not only be used as seating but also provide further options for a graffiti canvas."

Martha Wigmore, aged 11 years old, added: "I think the seats are great. People can sit on them or put their things down while they skate and you can use them for cool tricks."