Manchester United have announced plans to beef up security at their training ground.

The club are proposing a range of new security measures at their 44 hectare Carrington base in Trafford including 11ft high gates, new automatic lift barriers, bollards and modifying existing fencing.

The club say these are necessary to manage those coming in and out of the site and ensure players and staff safe, especially given United's 'high profile.'

Planning documents submitted by the club to Trafford Council last month say: "These measures will upgrade existing security measures that are in place.

"This level of security is required due to the high profile of Manchester United and to continue to ensure that visitors are controlled and the complex remains secure.

"The gates will provide the complex with a secure boundary."

They add: "The proposed works are required to ensure that the world class status of the AON Training Complex is maintained.

"There are very special circumstances which clearly and demonstrably outweigh the minimal harm the proposals will have on the Green Belt."

A decision on the planning application is yet to be made.

After the Manchester Arena attack in May, United bosses introduced new security measures at Old Trafford with increased searches and nothing bigger than a 'small handbag' allowed inside.

Last May, the stadium had to be evacuated and their final Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth abandoned after a mock explosive device was found in a toilet block, which had left behind after a training excercise.

Around the same time the club successfully applied to erect new 26 foot high fences around the training base in a bid to keep prying eyes away from their sessions.

Original post:

Manchester United announce plans for ring of steel around their Carrington training ground - Manchester Evening News