SKATE fan Steve Wilson has just completed a Coast to Coast challenge - on a BMX bike.

Steve, who runs the Project One indoor skate part in Carlisle, set off from Kie Park in Whitehaven on Sunday, October 6 and completed his challenge on Tuesday, October 8 when he rocked up at an outdoor skate park in South Shields.

He said: "I've raised about £1,600 which is just great. I had no idea that people would be so generous.

"The weather was really kind to me. I cycled 42 miles from Whitehaven to Carlisle on the first day and then 42 miles from Carlisle to Hexham the second day and finally 35 miles from Hexham to South Shields on the Tuesday.

"The forecast was not so good when I set off and I was dressed up like a fisherman but I only got a little bit of rain on the way. I was able to finish the challenge in my shorts and t-shirt, which in October is a result."

Steve and his colleagues would like to be to take some of the skate equipment into the community to reach out to a wider audience.

He said: "We want to give everyone the chance to have a go at skating. What we'd really like to do is get some ramps that we can take out with us.

"We've got equipment like elbow and knee pads but we'd really like to go into schools and teach kids how to skate. That would be brilliant."

The skate park opened last December in Atlas Works, Denton Holme.

Steve said: "We've had about 250 people pass through our doors during that time. The skate park is situated just under the Magic Castle play centre.

"We have a range of people who come. Our youngest is a little girl called Phoebe, who is three, and she comes with her dad. Then we have a group of guys in their 50s and the Border City Rollers like to use our facilities too.

"We would like to eventually expand into another unit to give us more space."

Children can use scooters at the skate park.

Anyone wanting to make a donation can visit JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bmxcoast2coast.