White Lion Park residents in Malmesbury who bitterly opposed a skatepark being located near their houses are forming an association to improve recreation facilities.

Householders were furious when town councillors proposed using a field near the 136-home estate for a skatepark.

Matters came to a head when the residents and town councillors hotly debated the issue at a meeting last February.

However, the two groups have now settled their differences and the residents are forming the White Lion Recreation Association.

Business development manager Dave Harvey, 61, who lives in White Lion Park, is a key supporter of an official organisation to improve recreation facilities in White Lion Park.

Targets include stopping dogs fouling the recreation area, getting an all-weather playing surface; dividing the football pitch into smaller pitches and providing more play equipment.

Mr Harvey said: "We have facilities here which are well used but under developed.

"We started off as a pressure group because we felt so strongly against the skatepark but this association is the positive side."