Burnt-out car discovered on refurbished running track in Leeds

A burnt-out car has been found abandoned on a recently refurbished athletics track in Leeds.

Members of the Crossgates Harriers running club discovered the Mini and tyre marks on the 400m circuit at the Temple Newsam estate on Saturday morning.

Liz Merriman from the club said: “They’ve done donuts, they’ve dug up the track surface, it’s not safe to run on – we’re gutted, we’re so disappointed.”

Ms Merriman said a clearing up operation had already successfully moved the car from the track, to ensure a 10k race planned for Sunday, to mark the reopening of the facility, could still go ahead.

The circuit on the Temple Newsam estate was once the city’s main athletics facility, and the first in the city to be available for public use when it opened in 1954.

It was home to Leeds City Athletic Club until 1980, but in recent years had fallen into disrepair with potholes appearing in the track.

Since work to restore the site began in 2024 running clubs have held a number of volunteer days to clear the track and edges of weeds and built-up soil.

Cinder resurfacing work has also been recently completed.

Speaking before the clear-up operation began Ms Merriman said: “We were so upset, so sad, because of all the blood sweat and tears of all that time and work.”

“The purpose of the restoration was to make the facility nice for our community, so it’s free and safe to use,” she said.

“But now it’s covered in bits of metal, glass, oil and brake fluid, so it’s not safe.”

Ms Merriman said an “army of volunteers” from the club had been at work making the track “safe for tomorrow’s race and fit for purpose again”.

“The race starts and finishes on the track and is definitely going ahead,” she said.

The car has been reported to West Yorkshire Police and the force has been approached for comment.