A Swindon community has gathered to celebrate the second anniversary of a hard-won BMX track.

Hard-won and hard-walked, because the facility estimated to cost around £85,000 was partly funded by a 26.2 mile walk by a councillor.Councillor Suresh Gattapur is third from the right (Image: Dave Cox)

Residents and local businesses doanted over £3,500 to Suresh Gattapur to help build the BMX track in Rivermead, Westlea.

He said at the time: “Today’s youth are our future, and we need to invest in them to make them better, responsible citizens of our lovely town.

“We must encourage private-public participation in future projects to make our area clean and green.”(Image: Dave Cox)

Two years on and participation is ongoing, as the local community gathered to celebrate the second birthday of the track, described as the best asset the parish council has.

Hayley Bell, West Swindon Parish Council deputy chair, said: “I think it's going to to really good to get all the communities together and celebrate one of the nicest aspects that West Swindon Parish Council have got.”

She explained the track, which is free and has two circuits of varying difficulty, lets young people be active “in a non-mainstream way”.

The event was attended by Amelia Eaton, the Junior British BMX champion.