If you want to see hitchhikers, cliffhangers and time machines, go along to one of Hamilton's car parks for an array of eye-catching stunts from Bermuda's new BMX gang.

Former professional BMXer James Needham has been kick-starting the 1980s craze on the Island after swapping his life performing tricks all over Europe for a career as a chartered surveyor.

But following the closure of a skatepark at Admiralty Park due to vandalism, Mr. Needham and his flatland friends have resorted to honing their skills in Bull's Head and City Hall car parks, and the basketball courts at TCD.

They are hoping Government will set up a dedicated skatepark which they believe will encourage young people to do something more exciting than sitting on a wall and less anti-social than fighting each other.

"It would cost $50,000 to $70,000 to get one with all the concrete and all the right security, but it would be there for life," said Mr. Needham, 32.

"To be good at what we do takes two or three hours practise a day. It teaches you life skills through sport: if you want something, you can achieve it.

"We have to be creative, going to the car parks or TCD. We are allowed to do that, but there should be somewhere in Bermuda; a dedicated and safe facility would be advantageous."

'Hitchhikers', 'cliffhangers' and 'time machines' are just some of the stunts people have been treated to as they park their cars in Hamilton.

Simply put, they involve riding the bike in an unusual way. In the case of the cliffhanger, in which the rider is precariously perched with the BMX's frame in a delicate position between his legs, things look particularly risky.

A few others are intriguingly named, such as the 'funky chicken', a trick in which you ride your bike back-to-front as opposed to something you might find roaming around Pembroke Dump, as well as the 'gut lever', 'spiderman' and 'pinky squeaks'.

Stunts like these helped Mr. Needham, from Sheffield in the UK, earn a contract with Adidas some years ago, taking him to Sweden, Holland, Spain and the United States, performing at Formula One races and Wembley Stadium.

Flatland used to be popular 20 years ago, but has showed signs of taking off recently after Mr. Needham started hitting the car parks a year ago.

"When people saw me riding, they wanted to know what was going on," he said. "They would stand around and look. You would get old people coming over; people would stop in their cars."

Mr. Needham has been visiting schools to talk to youngsters about the importance of dedication, professionalism and commitment in sport.

Michael Johnson, 26, one of about six converted BMXers on the Island, said: "I got bored one day and really needed something to do. I tried this once and I was hooked. "It's a good way to meet people as well."