HUNDREDS of youngsters swarmed Wellington Recreation Ground on Saturday morning (September 25) for the official opening of the town’s £175,000 pumptrack.

Wellington Mayor Cllr Mark Lithgow declared the track open by cutting an inner tube of a bicycle tyre, rather than the traditional ribbon.

A professional riding demonstration was then put on by contractors Clark and Kent, which built the track in less than 10 weeks.

A festival atmosphere was created for the opening with bike marking, repair, and maintenance pods manned by On Your Bike and The Bicycle Chain, youth service stalls by In The Mix and Taunton Monday Night Skate, and food and drink vendors.

A spokesperson for Clark and Kent said: “After all the planning, groundwork, shaping, surfacing, and finishing, there is nothing better than seeing a new facility come alive, full of riders of all ages putting it through its paces and enjoying every inch of it.

“A brilliant event, a fantastic turnout, and a great way to officially hand the track over to the community.

“Thanks to everybody who came along, rode, watched, and helped make the day such a success.

“Built to ride. And yesterday, Wellington certainly did.”