Birmingham is to receive a high performance indoor athletics training centre thanks to Sport England.

Sport England is to meet most of the cost of the training facility as part of the Institute of Sport network with an award to Birmingham City Council of £2.5m The total facility is expected to cost £3.2m.

The indoor centre, which is to be built in the Alexander Stadium, will include a 132 metre sprint straight, two long jump pits and run-ups, one pole vault landing bed and run-up, practise areas for throws, high jump and weights rooms.

Ashia Hansen, the World Indoor triple jump record holder, welcomed the news: Having top class training facilities is vital for today's modern athlete, particularly if we are to compete and win competitions at home and abroad.