The long-awaited opening of a new skate park has been pushed back yet again - this time because of a combination of Brexit and Covid.

Urban sports enthusiasts looking forward to experiencing the new F51 sports centre in Folkestone this month will now have to wait until 2022 thanks to issues with the building's cladding.

The bespoke facade for the striking structure at the junction of Tontine Street and Dover Road is being sourced from Spain, where pandemic restrictions have been even tighter than here in the UK.

A statement announcing the latest delay was posted on Facebook today, and reads: "Due to an unforeseen delay regarding the building's bespoke cladding design, we will sadly not be opening our doors this month.

"This slight setback has not stopped the progress of Maverick, Cambian, Jenner and King Kong who have all been working hard to finalise the skate floors, climbing walls and building work on site. We have made incredible progress this year, despite the challenges that everyone has been up against.

"Thank you so much for your patience, please do continue to bear with us as we approach completion. We are just as eager as you and cannot wait for those doors to open in early 2022."

The new centre, believed to be the world's first multi-storey skate park, will feature suspended concrete skating bowls, plywood ramps and street-scene skating, which will also be suitable for BMX riders.

Funded and developed by the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust as part of regeneration plans for Folkestone, F51 will ultimately be managed by the Shepway Sports Trust.

Over the years it has received celebrity endorsements from American rapper MC Hammer and pro-skater Bam Margera.

The multi-million pound project was first proposed in 2015 but as been plagued by a series of delays due to its complex design, escalating costs and previous issues with cladding.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone