A mother has blasted penny-pinching council bosses after her daughter won first prize in a competition - a skateboard with no wheels.

Schoolgirl Katie O'Driscoll, 12, was one of hundreds of local youngsters who suggested a name for a new skateboard park due to be built in Grove by the Vale of White Horse District Council.

Her suggestion, SK8'n'Ride, was judged to be the catchiest contribution. Katie, a Year 7 pupil at King Alfred's School in Wantage, was thrilled to learn she had won a skateboard. But when she went along to the Wasborough Field site to receive her prize, she was amazed to be handed just the wooden 'deck' - without a set of wheels.

Now the disappointed youngster, who was looking forward to trying the sport, has gone back to her favourite in-line skates.

Katie's mum, Sue O'Driscoll, of White Horse Crescent, Grove, said the prize was "absolutely ridiculous".

She added: "I thought it was stupid. I know it was donated, but what good is a skateboard without wheels? "Katie's really disappointed as it's no use to her at all.

"It's just been shoved in a cupboard.

"She actually laughed about it at first, but when she got home she was quite upset."

Sue said that when the council telephoned to announce Katie's good luck, she was told the prize - donated by an Abingdon-based magazine Sidewalk Surfer - was a skateboard, and assumed the wheels came with it. "Presumably, the wheels are the most expensive bit, but I would have thought that the council could have put the money in to provide a proper prize," said Sue.

"From a safety point of view, I thought they could also have thrown in knee and elbow pads, to get the right message across. But if she hasn't got wheels, she doesn't need them, I suppose."

The Vale apologised and said Katie should have received a fully working skateboard.

Story date: Tuesday 13 April

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