MONMOUTHSHIRE is set to get its own cycling track courtesy of £150,000 of National Lottery funding.

Monmouthshire council has secured funding through the Sport Wales Calls for Action programme to support the construction of a closed-road cycling circuit at Gilwern Outdoor Education Centre, near Abergavenny.

The council plan to match the funding through various sources.

The 1.2km looped circuit, which will span six metres in width, will offer the county an elite-level facility that will play host to national sporting competitions.

On a more regular basis, the velo-track will become a cycling hub, providing school and adult clubs space for cycling, training for competitive cycling groups, increasing disability cycling and providing a place for recreational cyclers.

It is estimated that the velo-track will see over 45,000 new participants accessing the site inside three years.

On average, the centre is forecasting 1,045 regular weekly participants.

This announcement forms part of Sport Wales' plan to inject £1.5million of National Lottery funding into communities across Wales to increase sport participation.

The programme is aimed at creating partnerships between sport providers and health boards, social housing organisations, social enterprises and universities, to tackle issues which prevent people getting access to sports and leisure facilities.