OLYMPIC gold medallist Victoria Pendleton will help officially open the revamped Hadleigh Park mountain bike course.

The London 2012 venue opened to the public in late April, but is now being launched by a group of special guests.

Culture secretary John Whittingdale will also be present at the launch event next Friday afternoon.

Ms Pendleton, 34, is a double Olympic gold medallist, having won on the track at both the 2008 and 2012 games.

Hadleigh Park hosted the mountain biking events in 2012, before undergoing a £6.8million redevelopment for public use.

Most of the features from the Olympic course have been retained, but easier routes, including trails for walkers, horse riders and disabled people, have been added.

The conversion has been a joint project involving Essex County Council and Visit Essex.