Sidecar superstar Steve Webster traded burning rubber for cutting turf as he officially got work on building a new sports development in his home town off the grid.

The eight-times sidecar world champion was at the Galtres Centre, in Easingwold, where he kick-started the beginning of work to build a new health and fitness centre.

It is phase four of the programme to convert the Galtres Centre and is expected to take about six months to complete, with an opening date of early September being tentatively put forward.

Much of the work will be funded by cash from the National Lottery and the total cost is expected to be about £100,000.

Updated: 12:09 Monday, March 05, 2001