ATHLETES in east Cleveland have moved a step closer to having their own modern training facilities.

Organisers of a project to create a community athletics training facility in Guisborough have raised £50,000 and Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson presented a cheque to Laurence Jackson School's director of community sport Les Thomson.

Ten years of fundraising has seen the New Marske Harriers raise the money that has attracted further funding from the National Lottery, Redcar and Cleveland Council and from SITA Environmental Trust.

Graham Hall, chairman of the East Cleveland Athletic Track Association, said: "Athletes in east Cleveland will no longer have to travel to Middlesborough and beyond to access the facilities they need. I have spent over ten years working on this project; at last it seems worthwhile.