A REPORT has revealed the shocking extent of decay at the dilapidated Queen Elizabeth Stadium over five years.

The track has been out of action at the stadium since failing an inspection by UK Athletics at the end of April.

And Enfield Council has estimated that it will cost between £500,000 to £600,000 to renew - its preferred course of action.

In 2003 a UK Athletics inspector noted that the stadium "was suitable for training and competitions, but not for records", and said the track's condition was "quite smooth, but needs a resurfacing soon".

And this year's report said: "The whole site has clearly not been adequately maintained for some time or kept up to date with recommendations.

"The site presents serious health and safety issues and should not be used for any training or competition until basic cleaning and repair is carried out."

It added that the track was "severely damaged and breaking up in places" and was very dirty with no grip in places, the hurdles were mostly damaged and the high jump surface was dangerous and needed a proper clean.

Every one of the 30-odd areas inspected were deemed to be in an unsatisfactory condition.

A spokesman for the council said: "To bring the track back into a serviceable condition for training and non-competitive activity would cost in the region of £25,000 to £30,000, including a deep clean and repairs to the worn track surface.

"The council does not have this funding to invest in the track for what would be a very short period.

"The long-term solution would be a complete track resurface and redevelopment."

But John Templeton, athletics services manager for UK Athletics, rejected the £25,000 to £30,000 estimate, saying that this sum would only pay for a deep clean, a surface coating for the track or repairs to facilities for the some of the field events.

He confirmed that since the inspection was carried out the council had sought advice from UK Athletics on what could to be done to repair the track.

Chris Jones, communications manager for England Athletics, which aims to promote and improve athletics at a grassroots level, said that often tracks lie dormant because of under-investment.

He said: "Sport is still a non-statutory service. It is still a big issue - until Government makes it statutory, the local authority will look at its books and say we can't afford to invest in health and sport'.

"My attitude would be Let's look at it another way around. Get people involved in sports and get them healthy and help them to stay out of trouble'."

A survey of seven secondary schools by Enfield Athletics Partnership showed that all of them preferred using Queen Elizabeth Stadium to the elite Picketts Lock in the Lea Valley Regional Park.