CYCLISTS have urged the council bosses not to tinker with Hadleigh Farm’s Olympic mountain bike track too much.

Essex County Council has revealed it will be tweaking the course, and its features, with work taking up to two months to complete.

A spokeswoman said: “The key features need to be adapted so they can be either avoided or in some cases made more suitable for a recreational course.

“Plus signage needs to be added to ensure riders are informed of the grade of difficulty of various parts of the course.

“We will be in a position to publicise further details on how to access the site in the near future.”

Grips cycle club member Philip Mastro, 38, of Castle Lane, Hadleigh, is keen for the course to not be made too easy when it opens to the public.

He said: “I really hope the wait will be worth it. If they tone it down though, it will be such a shame, because it’s so good as it is. We want it to stay special.”

Chris Smith, member and press officer of Southend Wheelers, said the club is looking forward to using the course – however it ends up.

Mr Smith, 49, from Billericay , said: “We will make use of it, we’ll take training sessions over there and it’s about a link into cycle sport, that can only be a good thing. It will work both ways though because members of the public will go over there and ride and will want to join a club for structure to their riding – we will respond to that.”

Sam Mashford, 25, owns Velo Virtuoso in London Road, Hadleigh, and is a keen cyclist added: “Me and everyone I know are desperate to get on there.”