Oxford University wants to build a multi-million pound sports complex to restore its days of sporting glory.

A major review of sport at Oxford recommends the expansion of the historic Iffley Road ground, where Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile barrier.

And it calls for an indoor complex containing two sports halls, indoor tennis courts and a 25-metre swimming pool.

The review was launched after fears that Oxford's sports facilities were falling behind universities like Bath and Birmingham.

The plan envisages creating a centre of student sporting excellence on one site. The centre would also include lecture rooms, restaurant and hospitality facilities. Hertford College don Dr Bill Macmillan, who chaired the review committee, said: "We want to build on Oxford's traditional strengths in sports like cricket, rowing, rugby and athletics and bring five or six more - such as swimming, fencing, hockey and tennis - up to the same standard."

Jon Roycroft, head of the university sports department, said funding would almost certainly come from "external sources." He said it was 20 years since Oxford University had seen a major up-grade in sports facilities and the University had to ensure that sports stars of the future were not put off Oxford by lack of facilities.

He hoped that indoor tennis courts and other sports facilities would eventually be made available to non-university sports clubs.

The review also recommends the development at college sports grounds off Edgeway Road, Marston, especially for women's sport.

The University is currently building an Olympic-standard hockey pitch at Iffley Road and has raised £1m towards the swimming pool.

The 75 recommendations will now go before the University's parliament, the Congregation, in February.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.