A NEW cycle track named in honour of Pendle’s Olympic hero Steven Burke was officially opened at the weekend.

The £500,000 Steven Burke Sports Hub is now up and running at the Swinden Playing Fields in Nelson.

Steven, 26, who won gold on the track at the London Olympics two years ago, was on hand to officially open the circuit on Saturday.

He said: “I’m honoured for the track to have my name.”

Colne-based Steven will be riding for England in the Commonwealth Games, and will be using the track as part of his training for the games next month.

Coun Nadeem Ahmed, who oversees parks and recreation for Pendle Council, said: “We’re proud that all the hard graft and great team work to open this new cycle track has paid off.

“The new track at the Steven Burke Sports Hub is a brilliant new facility, both for competitive cycling and biking for leisure, for people of all abilities and ages.”

The opening of the all-weather circuit was celebrated with a Pendle Cycling Festival, with events taking place at the track all weekend.

Peter Boast, of Cycle Sport Pendle, has been pursuing the vision of a cycling hub in Pendle for the past five years and has now seen the successful bids worked up with Pendle Council, cycling clubs and local schools come to fruition.

He said: “It’s been a great team effort and fantastic that our vision of a wonderful hub for cycling, including coaching, racing and cycling for leisure, has become a reality.

“It will be brilliant to introduce people of all ages to the exhilarating sport of cycling.”