Support for the campaign to rebuild Shepton Mallet's popular skate park is full steam ahead.

And the Shepton Mallet Journal is backing the campaign.

Just days after Mendip District Council granted them a 30-year lease for the West Shepton Playing Fields site, the Friends of Shepton Mallet Recreation (made up of users, their supporters, the police, youth workers and parents) have applied for charitable trust status and started fundraising big time.

With a bank account set up, a Facebook page and a JustGiving page launched, and an application on its way to the Big Lottery Fund, the appeal for the skate park already stands at a healthy £30,000 – well on the way to its £200,000 target.

Today and then every week we will be publishing the thermometer so the whole community can see how the appeal is progressing and support the many events under way to support it.

Thirteen-year-old Morgan Purchase, from Cornwall Road, is organising a Skootathon with his mates from Whitstone school next Wednesday from 2pm to 5pm at the West Shepton Playing Fields.

The scooter fundraiser includes prizes for races and best tricks, entry is £1 each and helmets must be worn.

Funding for the appeal and pledges have so far come from many quarters including the town council, the Somerset Youth Community Fund, Tesco, and the Avon and Somerset Police's Community Fund.

The police have ring-fenced cash for resurfacing of the BMX track at the site and set aside a further £300 for competition prizes.

Now the group is appealing to people to enter a competition and design a logo to be adopted as the emblem of their campaign.

And a super prize (to be announced next week) awaits the lucky winner.

Just send your logo by post or email to the Shepton Mallet Journal, Southover, Wells, BA5 1UH or email the shepton@midsomnews.co.uk address.

The closing date for entries is March 4, and the editor's decision is final.

Shepton's PC Darren Walton, who with his colleagues is supporting the young skateboarders and skooter fans to the hilt, praised the users' group for achieving so much in such a short space of time.

He said: "We just can't believe how well organised and how enthusiastic they all are – to have achieved so much and raised £30,000 in just three months is pretty amazing."

For details on how you can support the appeal email the support@sheptonskatepark.co.uk address or check out Shepton Skate Park's website on Facebook – Save Shepton Mallet Skate Park.

See page 5 for news about DJ night to raise funds for skate park.