Youngsters on a vandal-hit Brighton estate are planning to build their own skateboard park.

A group of young people from Bevendean have formed an official committee to develop the skatepark to give them a place to gather and keep off the streets.

The youths are being backed by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Committee chairman Jamie Aston, 19, of The Avenue, said children as young as five had been forced to skateboard in the road because there was nowhere else for them to go.

He said: "There are a lot of young children round here. We all skate in a group. There is nowhere to skate. We all need somewhere."

At times, there are up to 20 youngsters skateboarding in The Avenue and Jamie said it was annoying the neighbours, as well as being dangerous.

He said: "I am worried about the young children because they are not so careful. They have nearly been hit by cars a number of times."

The skatepark would ideally be installed in the park near the children's centre. Jamie said: "It would not have to be big. What we have at the moment is nothing."

While older teenagers can go out of Bevendean to socialise, younger children are stuck on the estate where there is little for them to do.

Other residents have complained of acts of vandalism and that teenagers hanging around the estate have been causing trouble.

On Friday last week, Bevendean Children's Centre was targeted by youths who smashed windows while children and adults were inside.

Later the same evening, Bevendean Primary School was broken into and vandals caused £500 of damage.

Councillors and organisations in Bevendean are seeking money from the Government, which they would like to put into projects for youngsters on the estate.

They would like to submit a bid for around £3 million.

This cash could then be used to fund a variety of projects such as the skatepark and the rebuilding of the rundown children's centre.

Ward councillor Francis Tonks said: "It is accepted the area does need help. Bevendean is a fairly isolated estate. People are inclined to stick to their homes and are not terribly community-minded.

"I do think there needs to be schemes both for the young people and perhaps for the elderly people as well."

A public meeting to discuss plans for the skatepark will be held at the Church of the Holy Nativity, Norwich Drive, on Friday, November 22, from 6pm to 8pm.