BOURNEMOUTH campaigners say the proposed Slades farm track should be seen as a breeding ground to provide Olympic stars of the future.

Chris Hoy led the British sprint team to victory last week as part the strongest British track cycling squad ever assembled.

The team has won six gold medals already, with Bradley Wiggins writing himself into history as the first man to win gold twice in the individual pursuit event.

Now Alan McCrae, the development officer for Bournemouth Arrow Cycling Club, said: "When Wimbledon is on people are inspired to pick up their rackets. "But when people are inspired by the Olympic track cyclists where do they go?

Slades Farm has planning permission - but has faced strong resident's opposition.

Andy Storey, the press officer for the Jubilee Wheelers, 35, from Creekmoor, said: "Jason Kenny, one of the sprint team, came up as a direct result of Manchester having a Velodrome." "It's realistic that by 2016 we could have Olympians who started at Slades Farm."

Nicole Cooke, whose grandparents live in Lymington, won gold in the women's road race but it is on the track that Britain's cyclists excel.

Britain won nine of the 18 gold medals up for grabs in the track world championships in Manchester in March and are dominating the field in Beijing.

A spokesman for British Cycling said: "Bradley Wiggins started off at the Herne Hill Velodrome - it's not a massive venue. "There's a lot of tracks being built at the moment. "The point first of all is to get people out there enjoying themselves, but it's also to discover talent for the future."

The £700,000 track is part funded by a grant from the backing of Sport England and will be managed by Bournemouth Arrow, and open to the public at certain times.

Jean Scovell, from Ensbury Park residents association, said: "I think it's wonderful idea, it would teach a lot of children to ride, and if we are lucky enough to get medals that's great. "But this is not the right place. It's the last bit of open space not being used for sport. "And we just haven't got the infrastructure here."