MORE than 80 per cent of Hadleigh residents are in favour of holding the Olympic mountain biking event in the town, new survey shows.

With less than two years to go until the event at Hadleigh Farm on August 11 and 12, 2012, work has already started to create a 5km course around the Salvation Army’s farmland.

Essex County Council commissioned an independent firm Qa Research to find out what people in Hadleigh and across Essex think about the plans. The survey asked more than 1,000 residents for their views.

Eight in ten people said they were happy Essex will be a host county, and were confident the county can put on a successful event.

Overall 70 per cent felt the Games would be an opportunity to show the world Essex is a great place to visit, while 83 per cent of Hadleigh residents saw the mountain biking as a positive thing.

Stephen Castle, councillor for the 2012 Games, said: “It is extremely encouraging to see Essex residents are feeling so positive about 2012.

“We want to ensure as many residents as possible across Essex can take advantage of the unique opportunities having the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on our doorstep will bring.”

The council has already begun running initiatives relating to the Games, including the Essex Carrying the Flame curriculum pack, which uses Olympic values to engage and inspire young people in schools.

The Team Essex Ambassadors Award scheme, which provides grants to top-level athletes in the county who have the potential to compete in the 2012 Games, is also up and running.

The ambassadors will be paired with artists who will map the athletes’ journey to the podium through pieces of art, to be displayed across the county in the run up to the Games.