OLYMPIC medalist Derek Ibbotson has added his backing to plans for a new running track at Golcar.

The Huddersfield-born legend, one of the best athletes of his generation, won bronze in the 5,000 metres at the 1956 Olympics.

He joined Colne Valley Labour MP Kali Mountford and sporting VIPs when they looked over the 12-acre site off Field Head.

The scheme, drawn up by the Three Valleys Sports Trust, is for a two-lane, 400-metre circuit, with six 100-metre sprint lanes.

It would go on Kirklees Council- owned land near St John's CE Junior and Infant School and Manor Road Junior and Infant School.

The track could be widened to eight lanes.

Also on the site would be two full-sized football pitches and four junior-sized fields.

Ms Mountford said that with Huddersfield having a population of just under 200,000, there was a genuine need for the track.

"There are certainly enough people to use big facilities. It makes sense to build it here, because there is a clear demand in this area," she added.

She said such public facilities were vitally important.

"We have got higher amounts of obesity than ever in children and greater inactivity among them."

Tony White, the trust's treasurer, estimated the scheme would cost £900,000, with much of the cash coming from sports funding bodies.

He is calling on sportsmen and women to take part in the sponsored Examiner Charity Challenge event on Sunday May 23 to help boost funds for the project.

The trust was set up in 1996 to push for a running track in north Kirklees.

Runners at present must travel to indoor facilities at Wakefield or Princess Mary Playing Fields in Cleckheaton to enjoy their sport.

Schools and colleges have given their widespread backing to the Golcar scheme.

Kirklees planners are backing the scheme, which is scheduled to go before a council planning committee in May.