HOYLAND and Elsecar youth had a smashing time on Saturday.

Hundreds of youngsters were given the chance to create a graffiti display, DJ and play sports at the Summer Smash Street Scene event on Elsecar Park.

And after the success of the day organisers Barnsley Youth Service and the Forge are hoping to bring more events to the park, including a battle of the bands.

Youth worker and organiser Michael O’Roarke said the day had been about encouraging positivity in youth hobbies which are often associated with anti-social behaviour. There were plans for the graffiti — produced with the help of professional graffiti artist Chris Butcher — to be shown to councillors at the next area forum meeting in September.

He said: “Young people are too often seen as a problem and this challenged that stereotype by using these supposedly anti-social activities to promote good causes.

“The whole day went really well and people have been telling us there should be more of what we are offering for the kids.”

He estimated more than 200 people, mainly aged between 11 and 19, were there. There are now plans for other similar events. A battle of the bands could take place over three evenings in the autumn using the bandstand as a stage.

Pat Sullivan, a volunteer with Friends of Elsecar Park, said she would love greater youth involvement in the park. She said: “Saturday was a great success. We have an ideal venue here for more of these events and it would be great to get children coming here more often. It is something I intend to bring up with committee members.”