West Suffolk’s skateboarders and BMX riders turned out en masse to mark the opening of a new £250,000 skate park.

The site in Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds, was officially unveiled on Sunday, with more than 1,500 people putting it to the test as part of the town’s annual skate jam.

Young campaigners behind the Bury St Edmunds Skate Park Experience raised around £100,000 to add to the £150,000 committed to the project by St Edmundsbury Borough Council, and chairman Elle Zwandahl – who was involved in building the original skate park 20 years ago – said it was money well spent.

“It is just fabulous; everybody is buzzing with enthusiasm about the new skate park,” she said.

“This is going to be part of the rich heritage of Bury St Edmunds. It will benefit the entire community, not just young people.

“We are promoting a healthy lifestyle, exercise, people getting out and enjoying the fresh air, while the skate park community will self-police and regulate it themselves.”

Fundraisers even managed to net around £150 at Sunday’s event to put towards the group’s next project, and Simon Pickering, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s youth and community development officer, said it was a “great day” and “the best jam yet”.

He added: “The original skate park was always very popular with the community of people that use it – and from the feedback we have already had, I am sure this one is going to attract even more interest. The skate park community has been involved in every aspect of its delivery.”