MOUNTAIN bikers want to set up a club to help people of all ages enjoy the Olympic track at Hadleigh once this summer’s Games are over.

About 100 local people have expressed an interest so far in setting up an organisation to help run public mountain biking courses at Hadleigh Country Park.

Last week, Essex County Council revealed its plans to set up beginner and expert courses, based on the present Olympic track, and also build a community centre, with an equipment shop, and cafe, changing, toilet and bike hire facilities.

Glenn Horton, 41, from Leigh, helped architects design the Olympic course and will be working on its maintenance before and during the Games in August. He is one of the driving forces behind plans to set up a long-term mountain biking club at Hadleigh.

He was also one of dozens who turned up for a meeting about the proposals at Hadleigh Old Fire Station last Thursday .

Mr Horton said: “Mountain biking’s already really popular in Essex and a lot of people use Hadleigh Country Park for cycling.

“About 100 local riders in south Essex have said they want to be involved in a new club.

“We want to launch it after the Games and offer coaching to bring kids and families in.

“I’m also hoping to work with Cycle Southend, Hadleigh Country Park’s conservation group and the Olympic legacy team on conservation projects to maintain the course and the land, with volunteers involved, too.”

The club would have a youth section and groups for riders of different abilities and would stage community events at the new centre by the track, including family fun days and charity competitions.

Mr Horton, who took up mountain biking 20 years ago, moved to Leigh from the Midlands to help with preparations for the Olympic events on August 11 and 12.

After the Games, Essex County Council plans to split the Olympic course into a beginners’ “blue” track and a “red” track for more experienced riders.

Many of the course’s challenging features would be retained, but some would have to go to ensure the circuit was safe for riders who were less than world-class.

The plans can be seen at a second meeting at the Old Fire Station, between 6.30pm and 8pm on Wednesday.