By Matt Scorer

Hope Valley College's state of the art mountain bike trail is now under construction. 

The trail was instigated by students and was financed by a £4000 grant from the Derbyshire County Council Youth Opportunity Fund which grants money to develop youth projects.

The project was also significantly helped by a donation of stone from Lafarge Cement Works.

Principal Bernie Hunter said: "Getting the track constructed has taken some time due to poor weather but construction is now in full swing. It will enable the College to add a further dimension to the education we already have on offer. Not only that it will provide students with a place to meet, socialise and have fun constructively in a safe environment."

The track will add to the range of sports provided on the P.E. program as well as its extensive extra-curricular programme. It is envisaged that the track will be available for the whole community in keeping with the rest of the College.

The College will be the first state school to offer such facilities and the track should be ready for use in November.