SPORTS enthusiasts forging ahead with plans to build a new community stadium have a crucial meeting next week.

Land between St Helen Auckland and West Auckland has been earmarked for the new Prince Bishop Community Stadium, which could provide a track and training centre for minority sports.

Organisers have called a meeting on Tuesday, at 7pm, in the Aclet Hotel, off Watling Road, Bishop Auckland, to drive the project forward.

The steering committee secretary Richard Wigham said: "Durham County Council has offered us a 22-acre site. We have architects and solicitors on board and we are preparing a business plan.

"The stadium would provide a wonderful facility for sports such as hockey, archery, fencing, whippet racing, croquet and all types of equestrian activities. We need letters of support from the whole sporting community so that we can apply for funding and get it off the ground.

"Representatives of each sport will make the decisions and all profits will be ploughed back.

"We hope to be able to employ a development officer and need people with marketing experience to help at this stage."

Contact Mr Wigham on (01388) 527737 or 0781 4324444.