MIDDLE Eastern billionaires are said to be back in the running to re-open Great Leighs as a racecourse.

Talks were said to be taking place with wealthy Emirates backers in London yesterday to work on a possible approach to Edinburgh based West Register Investments, who have taken over the racecourse.

The meeting was, it is understood, being brokered by an Essex company that at present wishes to keep its potential United Arab Emirates buyers secret.

The UAE representative approached bankruptcy administrators Deloitte three weeks ago, as exclusively revealed in the Chronicle, but were told the course had been sold – although this was only confirmed last Thursday.

Main creditor for the £30 million course the Royal Bank of Scotland has passed the asset to West Register Investments which is a subsidiary of the bank.

Now the UAE consortium is considering a renewed approach to this new owner.

Rumour is that West Investments want to abandon the race course which was the first to open since the 1920s in England and closed again within months back in 2009 – to build homes.

But the site is not allocated for residential homes in the local plan and borough planning chief, Cllr Neil Gulliver says there is "Little chance of planning permission."

He added: "I still think there is mileage in it becoming a racecourse again.

"It has everything going for it apart from needing its facilities upgraded a notch to get the backing of the horse racing authorities.

"I am very interested in a middle eastern bid and hope something comes of it."