Now YOU can follow in the track of Olympic mountain bikers

The hardest trail has retained almost all features from the 2012 Olympic mountain bike course, but easier routes, including trails for walkers, horse riders and the disabled, have been added in a £6.8million redevelopment.

Active Essex, the body behind the project, hopes the world-class facility, which opened on Wednesday, will attract visitors from across the South East, boosting tourism, as well as fitness.

Chris Hyde, chairman of Hadleigh Mountain Bike Club, whose 339 members have helped design the 18km of trails, said: “The fact it is a purpose-built mountain bike venue makes it unique in the UK. There is no other trail in the world where you can ride down a rock feature, dissecting the Olympic rings.

“It’s the only Olympic mountain bike track in the world still in use.”

The mountain bike course is split into three: a 4km easier “blue” trail; a 5km harder “red” trail, which follows the Olympic route; and six difficult “black” features, such as jumps and drops, along the red trail.

A “green” trail around the northern perimeter of the park, stetching between Benfleet Train Station and Hadleigh Castle, can be used by walkers and horse riders, as well as cyclists.

A 1.3km trail with a gradient of less than 12:1 is suitable for all cyclists, including disabled riders using hand bikes.

The centre, at the end of Chapel Lane, also includes a 400-space car park, cafe, children’s play area and practice track. A bike and hire shop will open in July, when the park is officially opened.

Gary Sullivan, chairman of Active Essex, who has been involved since the project’s inception, six years ago, added: “We can’t stop smiling, the whole team is so chuffed.

“We knew we could pull it off, but it doesn’t undermine the value and the amount of effort from the team, British Cycling, the Salvation Army, Castle Point Council and the community of Castle Point.

“They have all contributed fantastically.”