A REDEVELOPED Olympic mountain biking venue will be opening to the public for the first time in two weeks.

Since London 2012, Hadleigh Park has been revamped to include a 400-space car park, cafe, bike shop, classroom space and outdoor play area.

Active Essex and Essex County Council have been developing the site, with the mountain bike course at its heart.

It will open to the public on Wednesday, April 29.

Active Essex chairman Gary Sullivan said: "The unforgettable and exciting events at Hadleigh Park during the Olympics saw crowds in their thousands flock to this hidden gem of Essex, showcasing this country’s passion for mountain biking to the rest of the world.

"We are delighted to announce that Hadleigh Park will soon be open for all to enjoy.

“The past few years has seen us transform this Olympic venue into a world class sporting facility.

“Our aim in redeveloping Hadleigh Park was to inspire and encourage generations to come, to be excited about sport, as well as instilling the Olympic and Paralympic values to all.

"The Olympic mountain bike course has been retained and developed with a new and wider network of trails and paths, catering for a range of users and making them accessible for all."

The park will be open from 8am to 5pm daily.

The venue and trails are free to access and parking charges are currently £2.30 a day, although prices are currently under review.

The official Hadleigh Park website will launch in mid May and can be found at hadleigh-park.co.uk

For updates and information, like ‘Hadleigh Park’ on Facebook or follow @Hadleigh_Park on Twitter.