Construction work on the new London 2012 mountain bike course at Hadleigh Farm near Benfleet, Essex, has been completed "on time and on budget".

Essex County Council and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) delivered the venue, which covers a 550-acre (223-hectare) site. An adjacent country park and farmland owned by the Salvation Army has been included in the site of the venue, which boasts a 5km (3.1-mile) open hillside circuit.

Work on the course, which is to host a Test Event on 31 July, commenced in July 2010 and features a range of yet-to-be named climbs, descents and timber-framed structures. LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe said: "The course is challenging with multiple climbs and descents for the riders to tackle and I believe that the mountain bike competition will be one of the most exciting events."

Image: LOCOG