PLANS by young people in Callington to create what could be the first national standard BMX race track in the region are to be presented to the town council next week.

A group of BMX and mountain bike enthusiasts have a representative from the International Mountain Bike Association on board and interest from world champion freestyler and BMX track builder Kye Forte for their project to provide a facility for riders of all ages.

Being spearheaded by 17-year-old Chris Lamley from Callington, the idea has been supported in principle by Callington Town Council which will meet the riders next week to look at track designs.

A suitable site of Launceston Road Recreation Park has been suggested by the council, which owns the park, as it already has planning permission for such a scheme.

Chris, who says the nearest dirt track of this quality is down in Portreath, is confident funding for the £40,000 project can be found.

'We have been told that there are landfill grants available and cycling is really popular at the moment, we just need to get Cornwall Council on our side,' he said.

'There are at least 20 older kids that are interested in Callington that I know and loads of little kids that want to get into it.

'We want to create a range of tracks that anyone with a BMX or mountain bike can use.

'The reaction so far has been brilliant. We had another plot of land in mind but the council suggested the park, which is ideal because there is a lot of space there.'

Chris' father, Charles, who is also involved in the project, and a committee member of the Woodland Riders Downhill Mountain Biking Club, said: 'There really is no end to what can be achieved in the park.There are no national standard BMX race tracks in the South West at the moment — this could be the first.'

Callington portreeve Karen Gold said: 'I am very, very keen for it to go ahead and support them all the way. It is a fantastic idea. Of course it all depends on the funding but we will do what we can to help them.'