An eight-lane track, proper changing facilities and viewing stand are essential if Swindon Harriers are to catch up with the leading runners in the athletics world.

However, an indoor track would propel Harriers into the upper echelons of UK track and field.

That is what the club would welcome if plans to create new facilities get the go ahead.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Advertiser, the sale of the County Ground could raise £7 million, with much of that cash being spent on new athletics facilities.

Harriers chairman Ian Larrard is a drug-testing officer with UK Athletics, so he gets to see the facilities at the best clubs in the country.

He and his colleagues have been looking closely at other clubs on which to base their plans for Swindon.

One such club is Windsor, Slough and Eton AC, who use the new Thames Valley Athletics Centre.

The lottery-funded centre cost £5.25m to build, on land donated by Eton College. It is so good that Australia's Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman trains there every summer.

They have a state-of-the-art outdoor track with full field facilities. The indoor centre boasts a 60m sprint track, long jump, high jump, throwing circle and even a pole vault, as well as weight-training.

They also have basketball, badminton and football areas.

The centre's marketing manager Stewart Meadowcroft said: "We even have a conference centre to generate money that is ploughed back into grass roots athletics.

"The centre is used by everyone. It covers the full spectrum, from young beginners to Cathy Freeman. "It has really helped to attract youngster into athletics."

The TVAC was funded by the Sports England, which provided £3.5million of lottery money. Two local councils provided £775,000 each to make up the difference.

Sport England is the lottery-based body to which Harriers and the council would have to apply for funding.

Harriers would have to submit a very strong case.

Sport England spokesman Fran Edwards said: "We want to help with facilities that bring on potential medal winners and benefit the community.

"We would need evidence of how the facility would be of use to the whole community as well as the elite. There are also planning, transport and environmental issues.

"Any club looking for a grant should have a good track record and a sound business plan."