Plans for a new covered test track at the BMW Mini plant in Cowley have been approved.

The track will have a canopy to allow cars to be tested over long distances to detect any production faults.

Construction will now take place over two phases, with phase one providing a canopy over the existing test track.

This will then be relocated in phase two over the new test track, to be constructed alongside the railway line at the plant between Horspath Road, the Eastern bypass and Garsington Road.

The application was approved by city councillors at the east area planning committee on Wednesday.

BMW corporate communications director Graham Biggs, pictured, said the company was pleased by the approval.