STAFF at a council-run sports centre followed the usual procedures when a stranger turned up to use their athletics track.

But the athlete who paid up for the privilege of some exercise at Darlington's Eastbourne Leisure Centre, turned out to be none other that record hurdler Colin Jackson.

Stunned staff, who did not initially recognise the World, European and Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion, did a double-take as he spent more than an hour going through his paces at the track.

He was joined by local athletes and watched by pupils from Eastbourne School.

Mr Jackson explained how he had been in the North-East and had decided to meet up with training partner Anthony Borsumato, who comes from Middlesbrough.

He said: "I am just getting ready for the new season and expecting a long summer so I'm not looking to be in top shape at the moment. It is a little bit colder up here than what I am used to, but I am more than happy to be here.

"I just want to keep running fast and get some fast times in the coming months."

John Tait, senior leisure assistant manager at the Eastbourne centre, said: "If Colin Jackson wants to use us then it cannot be bad. He is a real role model for the kids."

With her tongue firmly in her cheek, a Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman later said it did not expect to issue the star with a refund.

But she said the centre would seek to come to an "amicable arrangement" about any charge the next time he came to use the track.