Norwich is set to get what is believed to be the first fully equipped sports science lab in the county.

A new human performance laboratory, due to open at City College Norwich later this year, will enable testing of the athletes' body fat percentages, how they breathe, pedal stroke performance, total leg strength, blood sugar and lactate threshold testing.

The new facility will be offered to all local athletes and anyone interested in improving their fitness at competitive rates.

Norwich race cycling team, Team CCN, will be among the first to benefit.

Dick Palmer, principal at City College Norwich, said: 'Our sponsorship of Team CCN provides a great way to further strengthen the links between our sports students and local sportsmen and women.

'The students will benefit greatly from being able to put into practise their skills with the team.

'We hope that the performance analysis and sports massage provided by our students will support Team CCN's success, as well as aiding many other local athletes and fitness enthusiasts too.'

Team CCN will also be provided with support on competition days, with pre- and post-race massage provided by the college's Extreme Sports Therapy Unit, which is manned by students doing the level three diploma in the prevention and management of sports injuries.

As well as being used by the Team CCN riders – Andrew Manning, Darren Evans, Shaun Aldous, Jason Smith and Glen Stanford – the extreme sports therapy unit service is available to others.

Mr Evans said: 'It is great to have the opportunity to work alongside the students at City College Norwich.

'We have already benefited from pre- and post-race massage from the therapy unit and are looking forward to working more closely with the sports department in the future.

'It provides us with the opportunity to increase our performance whilst assisting the students of City College.'

A sports science lab used to be based at the University of East Anglia, but athletes have been forced to travel to Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge or the University of Essex.

Are you launching an exciting new project in Norwich? Call Evening News reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk.