The opening of Sittingbourne's new Mill Skatepark has been delayed once again – but that hasn't stopped youngsters from enjoying it.

Last August, Swale council said it was hoped the long-awaited facility, which has taken nearly a decade to become a reality, would be opened in October.

But work on the 570-square metre site behind Halfords at Sittingbourne Retail Park was still being carried out in November. The authority then said it hoped the park would be ready to open by the end 2019.

However, three weeks into January, the £240,000 skatepark is still not finished.

On Monday, a council spokesman said: "The contractor has almost finished on site and they have rescheduled the car park surfacing works for next week.

"We are working with them to make sure the skate park can be opened as soon as possible."

Despite it not 'officially' being open, a number of youngsters have already been testing out the new facility with bikes and scooters.

Dave Green, who has been campaigning for the skatepark since 2011, said he was looking forward to seeing more young people using the park.

"There are still some finishing touches that need to be done, but hopefully it won't be too much longer until it's officially open.

"It's a shame it has taken so long, for all the youngsters that have missed the opportunity to use it and have grown up, but hopefully its going to be there a long time for young people going forward."

When asked what he thought of youngsters already using the facility, the boss of Bird and Pest Solutions, who lives in Eastchurch on Sheppey, said: "I think it proves the pessimists who said it wouldn’t get used, totally wrong.

"Even in the bad weather the youngsters were there having a great time."

The park has been designed and is being built by Gravity Skateparks and will include rails, grind banks, a jump box, stair set and a rotate platform ditch bowl, seating, bike racks and landscaping.

For more information, visit The Mill Skatepark Facebook page.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne