NEARLY 30,000 people flocked to Liverpool to see what the UK’s biggest free youth festival had to offer.

Young and old gathered at the HUB Festival, on Wellington Dock, to watch internationally acclaimed skate boarders, bikers, break dancers and graffiti artists showcase their skills.

The highlight of the urban culture and extreme sports event, which ran over Saturday and Sunday, was the unveiling of Europe’s largest vertical ramp, which was used by skateboard legends Rodney Clarke and Chris Oliver and pro-BMX riders Bas Keep and Jerry Galley.

The skate park is the latest part of a radical makeover for HUB, which was recently voted Public Outdoor Event of the Year.

Sue Whitehead, event manager of HUB, said: “The event has been brilliant. The response from the public has been amazing.

“Last year, 25,000 people came along and this year we believe there have been between 27,000 to 28,000 who have attended. The event just keeps on growing. When HUB first started there were 500 people, and now we are bringing in almost 30,000.

“The new skate park puts HUB in the premier league of extreme sports festivals. It has helped attract the best these sports have to offer, including a number of big international competitions.