Lord Coe met top local swimmers and runners as he took a tour of the city's West View Leisure Centre, Fulwood, and Preston Sports Arena on Tuesday.

And the former Olympic gold medallist, who is now the head of the London 2012 committee, threw his weight behind calls for a 50m swimming pool in Preston.

The chairmen of Preston and Gallica swimming clubs made the plea for the full-sized Olympic swimming pool to save their promising young swimmers a three-hour round trip to Manchester to train.

Lord Coe said: "I was left in no doubt how strong the local interest in swimming is and how important in their ambitions a 50m pool is.

"The local organising committee is not a funding agency, but I will do whatever I can to make sure that athletes the length and breadth of the country always have the right facilities available to them."

Excited youngsters from swimming and athletics clubs queued up to get their tracksuits signed by Lord Coe, track cyclist Chris Newton and Olympic runner Helen Clitheroe of Preston Harriers.

Chris, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, said Preston would be an ideal training camp for potential Olympic athletes.

He said: "There is a lot to offer. As an athlete it's good to be in a closer-knit community.

"Bringing them into areas like Preston is a huge boost and hopefully that will make the difference between winning gold, silver or bronze and finishing fourth."

Daniel Sliwinski, 18, a member of Gallica who won three gold medals at the Youth World Championship, said meeting top athletes was encouraging.

Daniel, from Penwortham, said: "To actually meet people who have gone to the Olympics and got a medal has been really great."

Lord Coe's visit was organised by Lancashire Sport Partnership (LSP) and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Adrian Leather, chief executive of LSP, said: "His visit confirms our county's role and contribution to the Games."

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