HUNDREDS of cyclists are expected to ride through Brighton and Hove next month in support of the oldest velodrome in the country.

Cycling enthusiasts are being encouraged to join a special ride on Saturday September 5 in support of Preston Park Velodrome.

Cyclists are also being encouraged to show their support by pledging towards a newly launched crowdfunding campaign.

Organisers hope to raise £2,000 by October to set-up a campaign website and fund future promotion events.

More than 160 people have already signed up to the gentle cycle from the Palace Pier to the velodrome while 26 people have contributed £500 of funding.

Organisers have said that they only need 667 pledgers giving £3 each to meet their target. But they are not adverse to one big donor giving £1.5 million to update the complete grounds of the facility, not just for cycling but also cricket, tennis and other sports and events.

A Save Preston Park Cycle Track petition earlier this year gained more than 3,600 supporters and meant the future of the facility, which opened in 1877, was discussed by councillors.

They revealed that repairing the velodrome’s perimeter fence would cost £300,000 while additional funds were needed to repair the track.

A further meeting is scheduled for later in September with campaign organisers hopeful of a positive report prepared by council officers.

Campaign organiser Rupert Rivett said: "Hopefully the council will be able to find the money but we need to make sure that the track is sustainable for the long-term regardless.

"We want to restore the perimeter fence but we also want to make the facility suitable for other sports like cricket and maybe tennis, and repair the stands which we can’t use at the moment.

“We’ve also discussed lights so events can be run at night and a large perimeter fence that was there in the 1950s when it was really popular and people used to pay to see the cycling.

“It’s a great facility but it just needs a bit of tweaking to make it a proper venue and something to be proud of.”

Mr Rivett said he wanted to keep the momentum and the profile of the campaign going.

He said: “Last time we had 200 people for the ride when it was cold and horrible so if all things go well we should have more than that this time.

“We have our social media and have been quite active with that but we really need a website so that we can keep people informed about what we are doing in the future.”