The Wakefield venue, which has been on the drawing board for four years, will be one of the biggest of its kind in the country.

Now project leaders Wakefield Skate will finally see the scheme begin to take shape.

During the next three months, Gravity Engineering Ltd will work to create the 1,600 square metre, £400,000 facility for skaters and BMX riders near the athletics track in Thornes Park.

Wakefield Skate secured the bulk of the cash in a £250,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund. The rest is being provided by Wakefield Council and recycling funding body Wren.

Ged Capper, chairman of Wakefield Skate, said: "This is a momentous occasion and it is a wonderful feeling to start work on this groundbreaking project.

"This really will be one of the best skate facilities around with some unique features seen nowhere else in Europe.

"Gravity was chosen because of their professionalism, knowledge and experience of the skate industry to enable us to deliver this top-class facility in Wakefield come the autumn."

Coun Clive Hudson, cabinet member for environment, has been working closely with Wakefield Skate. He said: "This is going to be such a massive boost to not just the whole district, but beyond and it will rival any facility of its kind. It will offer older experienced users a real challenge."

Project bosses say the skate park has been located as far away from homes as possible.