A memorial skate park has marked its official opening - in high-flying style!

Hundreds of skateboarders, BMXers and scooter-riders descended on Kie Park, Whitehaven, on Saturday to celebrate the venue with a full day of skills and tricks.

Joining a large number of local enthusiasts was a bus-load of 50 who had arrived from Carlisle for the fun day, while one group had travelled all the way from Bristol.

The £250,000 facility in Hensingham has been built in memory of Kieran Goulding, who died in the 2010 Keswick School bus crash aged 15.

Tracey Nicholson and Adam Goulding, Kieran's mother and brother, cut the ribbon to formally launch the state-of-the-art facility that has proved "hugely popular" since it opened in May, said Tracey.

"It's wonderful to see so many people here enjoying themselves - that's what we have wanted all along," she added.

"Everything we have done has been about Kieran; even the ribbon today was black and green - the colour of his bike. I'm one proud mum."

A host of firms were in attendance, including Kieran's favourite energy drinks brand Monster, and Cleator Moor's Ainfield Cycles, offering entertainment and prizes.

Other guests included Whitehaven RLFC's Glenn Riley and Kurtis Quinn, Copeland mayor Mike Starkie and local councillors, and Whitehaven-born Oliver Todd, now a professional skateboarder. He learned his skills in Whitehaven's YMCA in the early nineties.

Oliver said: "It's an honour and a privilege to be here. The design is extremely high quality and gives young people the perfect environment to improve their skills in their chosen discipline."

The Friends of Kie Park group, including Tracey, Lisa Macleod and a host of Kieran's friends, have worked tirelessly since the tragedy to raise funds for the park. The fundraising will continue to raise the £4,000 needed annually to maintain the park