A number of prominent athletes have urged the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) to ensure London's Olympic Stadium retains an athletics track in legacy.

Dame Kelly Holmes and Daley Thompson are among those to sign their name as part of an open letter to the OPLC calling for an athletics legacy pledge to be fulfilled. Two bidders have been shortlisted to take on the stadium lease after the London Games - West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs.

West Ham United, together with Newham Council, is planning a multi-purpose, 60,000-seat venue that will retain the athletics track. However, Tottenham Hotspur is working with O2 Arena operator on plans for an 80,000-seat stadium, which would see the track removed.

In the letter, the group of athletes said: "It would be unacceptable for the stadium to lose the track and effectively become an Olympic Stadium with no Olympic connection. "We urge the decision makers to ensure the track remains post 2012."

UK Athletics has already come out in favour of the West Ham United/Newham Council proposal. Image: ODA/Tom Last