SKATEBOARDERS taught tricks and skills on a Witney estate to raise funds for two new play areas.

Activate:Madley Park, a residents' group on the estate, held a scooter and skateboarding skills workshop in its latest effort to raise £135,000 for the facilities.

More than 50 children of all ages attended the event on Saturday, which was held in anticipation of the new skate facilities that will feature in the playgrounds.

The project has now raised more than £92,000 through a variety of fundraising activities and donations from several organisations.

Recent donations from Cottsway Housing Association, the Doris Field Trust and charity Bartlett Taylor have helped push the project nearer to its goal.

Grants from Witney Town Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council have also added to the total.

Fundraising began a few years ago after residents identified a lack of provision for older children and teenagers.

The estate has a higher-than-average number of young people, and homeowners felt they needed somewhere to go.

Since identifying the need for the play areas, residents have taken part in boot camps, mud runs, a nearly new sale, an Easter egg hunt and many more activities and events.

Meanwhile, more than 50 residents took part in the estate's bi-annual litter pick, also on Saturday.

The group, which included county councillor Suzanne Bartington and district councillor Duncan Enright, collected several bags of rubbish and recycling.

They also rescued lost belongings, including three bicycles, a shoe and several footballs as they spruced up the estate, which is home to around 3,500 people.

Next month, Madley Park Residents’ Association will hold a gin tasting and live music night at Madley Park Hall.

Covers band and Madley residents The B List will play, while general entry tickets are available for non-gin lovers.

Tickets for the gin festival are available from @activatemadley on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by emailing activatemadley@gmail.com.