Hundreds of sport fans have thrown their weight behind a teenage athlete's solo mission to save a popular running track.
Campaigning Jane Elmes, 14, of Fifth Avenue, Canvey, has remarkably collected 663 signatures from island folk in the last two days.
Save our track - Jane Elmes, 14, has collected 663 signatures Picture: ROB BROWNE
Support to reopen the track at Waterside Farm sports centre, off Somnes Avenue - a regular haunt of Canvey decathlete star Dean Macey - continues to grow.
Jane said: "It is a terrible loss and I felt I had to do something straight away as I and so many other young athletes train there all the time.
"I have been out collecting signatures and the people I have spoken to have been absolutely disgusted by the closure.
"And I haven't finished yet. I will keep on getting names before handing my petition to the council."
The Evening Echo revealed on Monday how the track shut out of the blue last Friday.
It was hinted by Dave Blackwell, the council's lead member for sport, it may never open again due to lack of use.
Jane, a pupil at Cornelius Vermuyden School, on Canvey, accepts the track could do with some work and reckons the council should cough up.
Mr Blackwell said: "The council's technical team will be going down there to see what can be done. "From a personal point of view, I hope the track opens again."
Published Thursday, April 17, 2003
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