LONG-held hopes for a major sports complex in East Cleveland moved forward this week as plans were submitted for a £1m project at Skelton.

At the same time, after years of waiting for one scheme to come to fruition, the region looks like getting two.

Plans are being prepared for facilities at Saltburn that would incorporate a special running track for athletes, the first of its kind to be built north of London.

The Skelton application includes a sports building with floodlit pitches, bowling green, tennis courts, Trim tracks, skating and scope for a range of other activities.

Money is coming from the single regeneration budget and a package is being prepared for a bid to the sports lottery.

Redcar and Cleveland council special projects officer, Mr Peter Jones, who has been very involved, told the D&S Times that the sports arena on the nine- or ten-acre site would fulfil almost every sporting need for what was certain to become a huge attraction.

The sports arena at Saltburn, with its 6-4-2 running track, together with the Skelton complex, would make the area one of the most sports-orientated in the region.

At Skelton, it all began as a low key improvement proposal for a typically local village sports facility. But at a parish council ward surgery one evening, Coun Mike Stephen suggested people should raise their sights and get together for a more expansive scheme.

The idea of a complex was born, and after five years of ups and downs, the dream has come true.

The biggest obstacle was getting agreement from Skelton and Gilling Estates for a 21-year extension of the lease without which no grant could be applied for.

To impress the urgency of the need, an action group made a bizarre appeal in the form of a 300-strong march through the village with banners made by children and a jazz band to present a 4,000 named petition to the estate owner.

Coun Helen McLuckie, chairman of Skelton and Brotton Parish Council which has been deeply involved throughout, remembers it well.

"It was a tremendous spectacle and so well-organised," she said. "And we were all made very welcome at the castle gates. It was the turning point in the campaign for the complex."

The plans include picnic and play areas, and even a cardiac vascular health unit.

The running track at the multi-sports arena at Saltburn will be just 400m long, but the special design of lanes would make it suitable for long, medium and sprint racing.

Mr Jones said it would be a training arena, particularly for track and field events, and be a starting point for athletes heading for bigger things at Clareville and Gateshead