Plans have been revealed for a £37 million sports centre which could help bring the Olympics to Mid Sussex.

Crawley Borough Council wants to replace the existing leisure centre in Haslett Avenue with a world-class arena on the Thomas Bennett College campus in Ashdown Drive, Tilgate.

It is hoped that having such top facilities close to London could help the capital's bid for the 2012 games.

Councillors believe they have secured funding and have put the design, devised by council architects and S&P Associates, out to tender.

Contractors will now bid for the chance to construct the landmark development.

Earlier this year, the project suffered a major setback when Sport England turned down a £3 million lottery bid.

Council chiefs expect a second application, being drawn up through the New Opportunities Fund and expected to be ready in the New Year, to be a success.

The complex would have a 50-metre swimming pool with diving facilities, a sports hall the size of 12 badminton courts, a gymnastics hall, three squash courts, two dance studios and a health and fitness area.

There would be an athletics track and grandstand, an artificial grass pitch and a six-court multi-use games area.

Councillors have earmarked £10 million towards the cost and a further £3 million from lottery grants.

Money from the sale of the Crawley Leisure Centre site will make up any shortfall.

Work is expected to start next year. Councillors hope it will be completed by September 2005, coinciding with the opening of the new Thomas Bennett Community College buildings.

In June this year, sports minister Richard Caborn visited the site.

A borough council spokeswoman said: "What the minister suggested was that if London hosted the Olympics, a number of foreign teams would need somewhere to train.

"We may well find ourselves providing them with facilities."

The plan coincides with West Sussex County Council's Public Finance Initiative scheme to rebuild Thomas Bennett and Ifield Community Colleges and create a new secondary school at Maidenbower.

Another £1 million will be spent to create mini leisure centres at Ifield and Maidenbower schools, which will also be open to residents.