ATHLETES have launched a petition to save their running track at Huntington Stadium.

Members of Nestl Rowntree Athletics Club fear the track, the only public all-weather track in North Yorkshire, could be ripped up if York City's plans to redevelop the stadium go ahead.

City are hoping to move from Bootham Crescent to Huntington Stadium, which is also home of York City Knights Rugby League Club, at the end of the 2003/04season.

Athletics club officials fear they are being squeezed out and plan to get nationwide support for their campaign. The petition, which is to be sent to City of York Council, has already attracted 200 signatures.

Although they want the football club to survive and flourish they don't want it at the expense of losing the all-weather track coupled with its throwing and jumping facilities.

The petition is being organised by Dick Brown, a life member of NRAC and a member of the North of England Officials Committee.

The club hope to present it to City of York Council, who will have a big say on the future of the track.

Copies of the petition are to be given out to other clubs at an open West Yorkshire League meeting at the stadium tomorrow.

"It is sad that athletics is being pushed to one side as that is the impression that is being given," said Brown.

Committee members of NRAC have met this week to discuss their next moves and it seems the sports national body - UK Athletics -may step in to help.

Athletics is still smarting after the track used for last year's highly-successful Commonwealth Games was ripped up to prepare for Manchester City FC's move from Maine Road to the new stadium.

City are drawing up plans to redevelop the stadium to the tune of £3million to bring the ground up to Football League standards. Part of the money to fund the move is coming from Bootham Crescent Holdings and developers Persimmon.

BCH, City's landlords, intend to sell Bootham Crescent to Persimmon for housing but as part of the deal to vacate BC by the end of next season are to inject "substantial funds", believed to be up to £1million, into the Huntington move.

It is thought that redevelopment work at Huntington may have to begin in September for the stadium to be up to scratch for the 2004/05 football season - leaving the athletes without a home.

NRAC vice-chairman Ian Wilcock said: "We are in a difficult position as we also want the football club to survive and prosper. But we have more than 250 junior members and 100 adults training at the track twice weekly."

The club are seeking legal advice about their position as they helped pay for the track when it was opened in 1989.

City of York Council have already said that preliminary talks about possible new sites for athletics had begun.

Updated: 12:01 Friday, April 11, 2003