HAMPDEN's massive revamp was given the seal of approval by Olympic golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill.

The gold medal-winning heptathlete was joined by Scotland's top track star Eilidh Child for a sneak peek at the arena.

Despite not taking part in this summer's games, the mum-to-be, who is one of the most high-profile Games Ambassadors, stepped out on to the elevated track as workers continued to lay the special surface.

Speaking during the official tour of Hampden Stadium and before visiting the Athletes Village, Jessica said: "There is a lot of excite-ment among all the athletes.

"Having such an amazing Olympics and then having the opportunity for the athletes to come and be part of another great event here in Glasgow, it's just really exciting.

"There's a big buzz around it."

And she was thrilled to be reunited with her Olympic room-mate, Eilidh.

Jessica said: "I have been following the team this year, but not competing. It's good to hear what's going on and how everyone is getting on preparing for the Commonwealth Games.

"It's really nice to have a bit of a reunion."

The ground-breaking track is the first of it's kind to be installed in a stadium, having been tested in the East End in the summer of 2012.

It has been a closely guarded secret since work began in December.

Now, organisers hope the design will set a precedent for future competitions and inspire other countries to use the model.

Approved by the IAAF, it is already being termed the 'Glasgow solution' in athletics circles, organ-isers claim. Built using parts recycled from the London Olympics and the Glasgow on Ice rink in George Square, it can be fully dismantled after the sporting extravaganza.

Football fan Eilidh, who already has a Comm-onwealth silver medal for the 400m hurdles, has been to Hampden on match days and has good memories of the stadium.

But she said she was confident it had been successfully transformed into an athletics arena.

She said: "As soon as I stepped on to it I felt the football stadium disapp-earing and it becoming an athletics stadium.

"I really liked the fact that the crowd are right on the trackside. It will be a real benefit to the home athletes, having the crowd right there supporting you and cheering you on."

Following Hampden, the pair travelled to the East End for a look round the Athletes Village.

The specially built houses will host 6500 athletes and officials during the Games, and Jessica and Eilidh were given a tour of the village and had a cuppa inside one of the homes.

Around 80% of the homes were snapped up within weeks of the first batch of properties being made available for sale for homeowners to move into after the Games.

Councillor Archie Graham, executive member for the Common-wealth Games, said: "The demand for the houses is phenomenal.

"Deposits have been paid and in terms of the 50% that are for social rent, we are working with three local housing associations to make sure that as much as possible local people get access to these houses.

"I am sure you will be able to see what high demand there will be for the rented houses as well as for those for sale."

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk