PLANS for a purpose-built dirt track in the New Forest's biggest town have been drawn up.

Youngsters united with civic chiefs in Totton to devise a proposal for £75,000 of improvements to an existing sports complex. A planning application has been submitted to construct a dirt track for BMX bikes and to upgrade Closed-Circuit TV facilities at Bartley Park.

Deputy town clerk, Neil Garfoot, told the Daily Echo: "Facility-wise it has never been better in Totton. It's superb."

The latest proposal would complement the existing facilities at Bartley Park in Ashurst Bridge Road, which include skate ramps, a kick-about football area, aerial zip-wires and a shelter. It will be funded by contributions that developers building in the town have to pay towards recreational facilities to benefit the community.

Other new sports facilities in Totton in recent years include eight tennis courts, a paddling pool and play area at Hanger Farm and the Totton and Eling Bowls Centre.

Plans to create an off-road BMX track at the floodlit site at Bartley Park were driven by popular demand from the town's youngsters.

"It's one of those things that always crops up as being something youngsters are looking for," said Mr Garfoot.

"It's a very popular sport and they tend to go on any bit of grass and ride their bikes. This will provide them with somewhere purpose-built."

About a dozen young people got together with Totton and Eling Town Council bosses to design the track, which features mounds, hollows and jumps. If the new plan goes ahead, the site's CCTV will be upgraded and linked up to the central monitoring service in Lyndhurst.

If New Forest District Council approves the scheme, it could be ready in time for the school summer holidays.