An athletics stadium in Ashford will soon be getting a new £300,000 running track as resurfacing work is set to start.

It will be the first time the track at the Julie Rose Stadium, which opened in 1997, will be refreshed with Ashford Borough Council (ABC) investing the money.

It follows the complete refurbishment and opening of the gym and exercise studio in November.

The upgrades are due to begin in early March with a finish date expected in the summer.

Cllr Matthew Forest, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “The council is investing heavily in improving the facilities on offer across the borough.

"We want our residents to be able to use bigger and better facilities, which is why we have invested significantly in leisure provision across the borough, not only here but at the Stour Leisure Centre, Spearpoint, Waterside and Pitchside as well as in Tenterden.

“In addition, we want sports clubs to be able to use the very best athletics facilities locally so this investment in the track will make it one of the best around, and I look forward to seeing local runners out on the new track this summer.”

The stadium in Willesborough Road now boasts some of the best health and fitness facilities in Ashford alongside the recently refurbished Stour Centre which the council says has seen a dramatic uplift in customers.

The stadium is home to Ashford Athletic Club that uses the track for regular training and events and competitions throughout the year.

The club commented on the planned improvements saying this is an investment for the long term future of the stadium and its club.

Tom Price, area manager at Freedom Leisure, the company which operates the facility, commented: “We are very excited to announce this investment project in partnership with Ashford Borough Council.

"Julie Rose Stadium has hosted many high profile athletics events in the past and the new track will provide excellent training and competition facilities for many more years to come.”

He added: “We are proud to manage the best leisure and sports facilities for the community of Ashford on behalf of the council. I’d encourage anyone that is yet to visit the Stour Centre and Julie Rose Stadium to do so and see how they can benefit from using these first class centres.”