A 40-year old athletics track in Leek, Staffordshire, has received a £30,000 upgrade designed to keep it fit for use for a further four years while the local authority continues with plans for a sports village.

Work at the Birchall track was carried out by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC), which also installed new barriers to stop cars driving onto the track and playing fields. SMDC's portfolio for leisure, sport and culture, Mark Deaville, said: "The 400-metre track has been deteriorating for more than a year, to the point where a lot of athletes were reluctant to use it for fear of injuring themselves.

"However, it is fit for use once more and will remain so while the council seeks funding for its sports village proposals."