A new indoor skate park could be up and running in the town as soon as spring after the founders of the original Trick Factory took ‘a leap of faith’.

Rob Ridge and Dominic Brown are leading a campaign to bring 2020 Skate and Ride to Bridport, a brand-new facility that will be based at Gore Cross Business Park.

The pair worked together to open the Trick Factory in 1999, a similar facility at St Michael’s Trading Estate which closed in 2016.

Rob said: “We looked at all the opportunities in the years since then and we found a unit available. We both had a bit of spare time, so we went and looked at the unit, met the owners and looked at the viability. It’s viable because of its location and is a good-sized facility.

“We’ve taken a leap of faith and we just feel we wanted to press on with something.

“We have a plan and vision of what we want to do with the place, which will cater for all ages and abilities, BMX, scooters, skateboards and roller skates.

“We have thrown ourselves at it hoping people and businesses alike will jump on board and support us with it. We want it to be a community facility.”

It is hoped the facility will also coincide with school finishing times due to its close location to the Sir John Colfox Academy.

They are willing to put a lot of their own time and money into developing 2020 Skate and Ride, like they were with the originally Trick Factory 21 years ago, but a crowdfunder has also been set up with the hopes of raising £25,000 and a range of rewards for donators are up for grabs.

Rob added: “Within hours of announcing it, people I had lost touch with contacted me - there was a tidal wave of support.

“We’re riding on a bit of a wave at the moment and we’re hoping to keep the momentum going and, most importantly, deliver something hopefully in the spring.

“All being well we can start building next month, that’s what we’re hoping for anyway.”

Nikki McCretton, a frequent user of the former Trick Factory, has given her support to the project.

She said: “There’s always been an active skate community in Bridport, and we’ve had to go somewhere else, we’ve had to travel. We haven’t stopped riding or skating and we’re desperate for somewhere to go.”

To find out more, search for 2020 Skate & Ride on Facebook. To donate, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/bridport-indoor-skate-park

This project is separate from the one aiming to redevelop Bridport bus station to include an indoor skate park.