THE organisers of a free indoor skate event said they are delighted with the response after hundreds of young people turned up to try out a new facility.

Darlington Gymnastics Club and 4Motion, a new group for wheeled sports, are working together to set up a new combined hub for gymnasts and skaters and held a test event this weekend to gauge response to the plans.

The groups have chosen a large warehouse on the edge of the Faverdale Industrial Estate, in Darlington, which they hope will be big enough to provide separate facilities for the growing gymnastics club, as well as the town’s first indoor skate park.

After filling the warehouse with mobile skate equipment, hundreds of young people from across the town turned up to test the site and complete questionnaires about what they want to see from the facility.

Members of the gymnastics club were also invited to come along to view their potential new home.

Nigel Potter, from 4Motion, said: “We’ve had a really busy couple of days, with 193 people signing in on Saturday and good numbers on Sunday.

“We’ve had a really positive response and I think it’s shown both our organisation, and the gymnastics club, that its worth putting in planning permission and going ahead with this.

“The town has a skate park in South Park and couple of bike tracks but nothing on this scale.”