A SKATE festival with a difference returns to Malmesbury next week, in time for the half-term holidays.

Malmesbury Abbey Skate will be celebrating its tenth anniversary, with hundreds of young people flocking to Malmesbury Abbey, a 12th century Benedictine Abbey which will be transformed into a 21st century skatepark from Wednesday, February 14, to Friday, February 16.

The skatepark is run by volunteers in the Abbey congregation, in partnership with charities Christian Surfers and Christian Skaters UK, and is a fantastic opportunity not only to serve the local community, but also those from skating communities.

This year's skatepark festival includes ramps, quarter-pipes, grinding boards and trick boxes.

Andrew Beebee, Children and Youth Minister at Malmesbury Abbey, said: "The skatepark is evolving every year and involving more and more young people in providing what is a great event for our community, working in partnership with Christian Surfers and Skaters UK.

"At the heart of the event is the message to the young people of Malmesbury that the Abbey is as much a building for them as it is for everyone, and that God and the church community loves them."

National director of Christian Skaters, Phil Williams, added: "It's a fantastic opportunity to partner with Malmesbury Abbey, to celebrate ten years of this amazing event, and to provide a great facility to practically serve the communities of skateboarding that do not normally enter a church building, the partnership has been developed over the years, and we are looking forward to a fantastic three-day Festival.

The event ends with a competition on the final evening.

Online bookings are now open, and with as many as 500 youngsters expected to take part, demand is always high.

Tickets are available for sessions from 10am-9pm each day at www.ticketsource.co.uk/malmesburyabbey.