SKATEBOARDERS, BMXers and rollerbladers showed off their tricks for the BBC cameras last week as they were filmed for the town’s special Blue Peter Olympics broadcast.

Members of Saffron Walden Skate Group were also joined by students at Newport Free Grammar School, who got a taste of the big time as they learned about the art of filming and reporting.

It was all part of Blue Peter’s Big Olympic Tour – a series of special live BBC TV programmes being filmed at nine locations around the UK.

The film will be produced by pupils at the grammar school and shown on national television during the live Blue Peter show, to be broadcast from the Common on July 7.

It will coincide with the arrival of the Olympic Torch and include a free jam-packed day of activities for all the family.

One member of the skate group, BMXer Toby Martin, performed an amazing set of stunts for the film crew, wowing BBC producer Beena Khetani at One Minet Skate Park.

She said: “Toby is incredibly talented and I’m delighted that the NFGS pupils had the opportunity to film his stunts at such an awesome skate park, which will make for great television as part of our coverage of the torch relay.”

And secretary of the skate group, Jane Gray, added: “We were thrilled to welcome BBC Learning and Blue Peter to our skate park and to have the opportunity to show off what our skaters, bladers and BMXers can do to a wider audience.”

One lucky year 9 student, Poppy Oldroyd, 13, described the chance to film for the BBC as an “amazing experience” and was delighted when the group were all presented with the iconic Blue Peter badges.