A campaign to build Ilkley's own skateboard park has taken a huge leap forward - thanks to a £15,000 grant from Bradford Council.

Pipedream, the charity behind the project, already has £5,000 in the bank thanks to the generosity of local individuals, including Ilkley Gazette readers, and businesses.

The new money means the group is close to reaching the halfway mark of the £55,000 target needed to create the riverside facility. The campaigners now hope to build on the momentum gained from the grant by announcing details of the Pipedream Easter Raffle Draw.

Due to take place on Saturday, April 19, the raffle is being supported by a host of local companies including Time Menswear, Bettys, and Bradford Bulls.

A limited batch of 1,000 tickets, priced at £5 each, will go on sale this week, as Pipedream Chairman Keith MacGregor explained. He said: "I am very chuffed we've got £5,000 so far and I hope the raffle will help us double that amount.

"If we sell all the tickets then, combined with the money given by the Council, which is fantastic, we will have £25,000, which is well on the way to getting there.

"Support for the park has been terrific so far and we hope a lot of tickets will be sold by the community through word of mouth."

The council money is part of a fund which was paid over by housing developers working in Ilkley in lieu of having to create recreation areas on their sites.

Among recent contributions to the campaign was £57 from Mark Hunnebell and Joanne Everall at White Wells spa cottage. They collected the money thrown into the plunge bath by well wishers.

Ilkley sports shop Dobson and Robinson, meanwhile, has also supported the campaign to the tune of £100. A further, sizeable grant could be in the offing once Ilkley Parish Council has collected its 2003 to 2004 'precept', the local tax which raises funds for community projects.

Ilkley district and parish councillor and Bradford's environment chief, Anne Hawkesworth, said she was happy to see the scheme moving forward at last.

She said: "Now that a suitable site has been identified near Ilkley Rugby Club I'm pleased to see that real progress is being made to identify funding for the skate park.

"It will provide an attraction for young people in Ilkley while taking them away from skating in the town centre, and the problems this can cause. I am committed to making sure this scheme happens."

The Pipedream Easter Raffle Draw will take place at 1pm at the King's Hall Winter Garden - with the organisers promising an appearance by a 'mystery sporting celebrity'.

Among the prizes up for grabs will be a clay pigeon shoot and lunch for two, a Ferrari 360 Spyder and Porsche Carerra 'adventure' and, of course, a skateboard.

Tickets are on sale at many of the town centre's businesses or by filling in the coupon below, including a cheque for the relevant amount made out to Pipedream, and sending it to: The Ilkley Gazette, 8 Wells Road, Ilkley LS29 9JD.