RESIDENTS have demanded that a bypass road be built to cope with the thousands of visitors to East Lancashire's planned "super racecourse".

At a public meeting last night local people raised concerns about the £100million project, which is set for land around Read, Simonstone and Altham.

Worries centre on a potentially massive increase in traffic, particularly from the north, that would have to come through Read and Simonstone to the track.

Race meetings could attract up to 30,000 spectators.

Residents were able to quiz the Marquess of Zetland, chairman of the consortium behind the plans, at the meeting in Read Primary School.

The meeting was one of several being staged to hear residents' concerns ahead of a planning application being submitted in the next 10 months. And many demanded a bypass to cope with the extra traffic.

Lord Zetland, 70-year-old Lawrence Mark Dundas, is a part owner of Redcar racecourse in the North East.

He said that the course could be built in the next five years and the 371-acre site could also include business and leisure facilities, such as a centre of sporting excellence.

He said: "On the whole it can do a lot for the area in terms of regeneration and employment. "Residents' main worries are quite clearly traffic problems but this is what the planners are for. They can do wonderful things."

Coun John Hill, who represents the Read and Simonstone ward, said: "We need to make sure that there is a sustainable traffic plan in place and that means creating a relief road for traffic from the north."

Clifton Pollard from Read Parish Council spoke out in favour. He said: "This can help bring prosperity to the area. This is the future and I'm all for it."

Lord Zetland said that a £4.3million survey would be carried out over the next two-and-a-half years to look in depth at the impact of the track on the local area.

And he revealed that TV nature expert David Bellamy will be enlisted to aid environmental surveys at the site.