NORTH Essex mountain-bikers may soon get their own special off-road park.

A meeting tonight is due to discuss moves to set up a mountain-biking centre on a site to the south of Colchester.

Cyclist Stuart Print, who is pushing for the scheme to go ahead, wants to hear suggestions for sites where cross-country bike courses could be set up.

He said: “We’ll be looking at a centre similar to the Chicksands Bike Park in Bedfordshire.

“The idea is at a very early stage, so we would like people to help us find suitable sites.”

Last year, Colchester was officially designated a Cycling Town and given £4.2million of Government and Essex County Council funding to encourage local people out of cars and onto bikes.

Pam Nelson, of the Colchester Cycling Campaign, said the idea had been discussed by cycling enthusiasts over the last year.

She added: “I think this is the first serious effort at making something happen.

“In principle, I think the local authorities and various third parties would be in agreement with looking at getting one.

“A lot of people don’t want to cycle for commuting or road racing, but they like the idea of getting out and about on bikes.”

The proposal will be discussed at an open meeting in the Bricklayers’ Arms, in Mile End Road, at 8pm tonight.