Skateboard fans from across the region held an illegal contest in Brad-ford in memory of a tragic skateboarder who died from an asthma attack.

The meeting, in the C&A car park in Charles Street yesterday, was held in memory of 14-year-old Matthew Douglas, known as 'Little Dougie' to his pals, who died from an asthma attack while travelling home on a bus.

Matthew's mother, Mary Douglas, and sister, Anne-Marie, 21, were at the event with his best friends.

And skaters made a collection to raise money for the charity Asthma Research.

Mrs Douglas, of Moorthorpe Avenue, Bradford Moor, said: "Matthew had wonderful friends and it's reflected here, this is a terrific tribute to him.

"I'm so proud that these people have done this, they're so considerate. My son was part of a wonderful, healthy sport.

"I've never come to the competitions before, but Matthew would certainly have been here today."

The event broke a Bradford Council by-law banning skating in the city centre.

But Chairman of Transportation Planning and Design Committee Latif Darr said it was a worthy tribute to the teenager.

He ruled out any potential legal action by Bradford Council against the organisers of the event.

"Obviously the Council does not encourage public skating in the town centre, but this event appears to be in a car park - away from major roads.

"Personally, I think it would be a harsh decision to take action against those responsible," said Councillor Darr.

Matthew died on August 23 and his death sparked an investigation into safety on First Bradford buses after it emerged the driver had been forced to use a public phone to call for help because his radio was broken.

Organiser David Vanaski, 29, owner of the Wisdom skate shop in Barry Street, Bradford, said members of the city's skateboarding scene had been shocked by Matthew's death.

He said: "We wanted to make a tribute to him, he was one of the best skaters around for his age.

"He was well known and he was always hanging around our shop.

"We decided rather than sit down and mourn we would do something he would have appreciated."

Skaters from Liverpool, Manchester, Chesterfield and Leeds joined with Bradford skateboarders after publicity was put out on the Internet, through magazines and on posters.

For three hours, music pumped out across the city centre before the event moved on to the Daily Grind skate centre in Bingley.

Doug McLaughlan, 14, from Fallowfield Gardens, Bierley, said people had been shocked by Matthew's death because he had been such a talented skater.

T&A Opinion

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