BRITAIN'S leading designer of mountain bike trails has backed a North-East dale to become the country's most popular centre for the fast-growing sport.

Seven tracks proposed for the hills above Weardale, County Durham, could be good enough to rival the world's best, according to Welsh expert Dafydd Davis, who is helping a task force shape plans for reusing an old cement works site at Eastgate.

The mountain bike tracks are a recent inclusion in a planning application for a renewable energy village being submitted by the task force next year.

But they have yet to be endorsed by people in Weardale, who have already rejected an idea for a ski slope on the site - because it would have used artificial snow.

With careful preparation, says Mr Davis, the mountain bike trails could become the UK's leading destination for a sport that is enjoyed by 22 million people.

With courses aimed at beginners, families, intermediate and experts, it could also stage major international events such as the Mountain Bike World Cup.

It would be unique in the UK, said Mr Davis, comparable with the Whistler Blackcomb Park, in British Columbia, Canada, which is visited by 1,000 cyclists a day.

Plans for Weardale include extensive cross-country trails, free-rider tracks and a four cross obstacle track.

A mountain bike centre with visitor and event facilities, a skills loop and training facilities are also envisaged.

Riders would climb to the works' quarry "tops" by funicular railway from the eco-village on the valley floor, which has already been dubbed the Bath of the North because of its spa, heated by geothermal energy.

Mr Davis has designed and developed more than 200k of technical trails across the UK, many on Forestry Commission land, and advises governments and other organisations on trails and their benefits.

He visited Weardale with energy village designer Jim Urwin, and said afterwards: "Weardale is a beautiful area and Eastgate has the right combination of access, elevation and topography. It would be the only facility of its kind in England.

"Mountain biking has gone through the roof in the past 12 years and there are plenty of spin-off benefits.

"A trail can be a magnet for riders from all over the UK. At the moment, the market is relatively small, so if the right kind of track is put in, the potential is enormous.

"People are prepared to travel many miles. It would mean weekend visitors spending an average of £50 each per night.

"The key is relating the trail to existing visitor facilities and to attract the right sort of visitors. It must be sustainable and needs to add value to the site. That is why it must be carefully planned. At the moment, they are doing it the right way and planning it very carefully.

"One of the most important things is to consult local people. They need to be comfortable with what is going to happen."

John Hamilton, chairman of the Weardale Task Force, said: "By creating a destination which caters for every skill level throughout the year, we aim to boost the local economy in a sustainable way and put Weardale on the map as the foremost mountain bike location in the country.