A £320,000 project to create a permanent skate park in Oxford is on course despite the flooding in the city last month.

Jack Richens, chairman of the Oxford Wheels Project, said rebuilding the Meadow Lane Skate Park in East Oxford was delayed by a week because of the wet weather.

But he hopes the long-awaited park will open by Christmas.

Mr Richens said: “We are still on course, which is good news.

“Obviously the flooding has slowed things down, but other than that it seems to be moving along quite nicely.

“It is looking great. The nerves are giving way to excitement at last. There has been a lot of anxiety and anticipation.”

He added that the drainage on the site worked well during the wet weather.

The project has also just been given a boost with sponsorship and support from Oxford’s Mini plant.

Oxford Wheels Project will provide several skateboard coaching sessions to factory employees and their children during the school holidays as part of the partnership.

There will also be opportunities for graffiti artists and factory paint shop staff to collaborate on art projects around the site.

Mr Richens said: “It’s fantastic to be associated with one of the biggest employers in the city. The plant is part of Oxford’s heritage and has done a great deal for the people that live here.”

Mini plant managing director Frank Bachmann said: “Mini is all about fun and excitement, so when we heard about the skate park it seemed to be the perfect match. This partnership will mean that we can offer some of our paint shop expertise as well as giving employees and their children the chance to learn something new.”

Mini Plant Oxford has also given the project an undisclosed sum of money and the new skate park will feature a Mini.

Construction on the skate park started in September following more than two decades of campaigning for a permanent skate park in Oxford.

The Oxford Wheels Project held a fundraising bazaar on Saturday to support the project. Items on sale included graffiti artwork, rare sneakers and vintage clothing at Souths Coffee, South Parade, Summertown.