Managing director Philip Siers has revealed that the first race at Chelmsford City racecourse will take place at the start of 2015.

The course was closed in 2009 after going into administration, but after the track was approved for racing earlier this year, race meetings will return to the course in January.

Siers told BBC Essex: "There will be a full programme and we hope that will go from strength to strength. We're scheduled to start racing around the middle of January.

"We'll probably have a couple of meetings in January to give us a small start into the racing season, but we've been guaranteed 56 fixtures next year."

The British Horseracing Authority will release a full schedule for the year before the end of October.