IMPROVEMENTS to a damaged fountain were unveiled in York city centre today.

And the new-look Parliament Street landmark features additions to deter skateboarders who damaged the original.

Years of vandalism and misuse by boarders - using the fountain slabs for tricks - has left the original fountain, built ten years ago as part of the pedestrianisation of the street, cracked and badly scuffed.

But the new-look focal point includes a decorative cast-iron fence to keep boarders off.

A new lighting system has also been fitted, along with a mechanism to create a more impressive splash effect, as part of £25,000 of improvements.

Councillor Derek Smallwood, City of York Council's planning spokesman, said: "The fountain is an important feature of the street scene in the city centre and we felt it was vital it should be repaired after the unfortunate damage caused by skateboarders."

Updated: 15:32 Friday, September 06, 2002