AN airfield could be used for the 2012 Olympic Games and help boost the local economy.

The district council has been asked to consider using North Weald airfield as either a camping and caravan site, a park and ride system, or for air passenger operations.

It is anticipated that the London regions tube and rail networks could be expected to carry up to 800,000 additional passengers per day during the 2012 games and there is a concern that stations already packed with commuters will not be able to cope.

Essex police are concerned that parking problems in areas such as Epping and Theydon Bois, where the Central Line runs through to the Olympic site in Stratford, could become an even bigger problem during the games.

A solution has been put forward for a park and ride service to run from the airfield, transporting spectators to Central Line stations.

The second option is for the airfield's licence status to be upgraded so that passenger operations could be hosted there.

This would allow corporate business aviation to use the airfield to alleviate the pressure on other airports expected during the games.

The third option of a caravan and camping site will also be considered by the council.

Many hotels are already fully booked during the 2012 games.

The airfield has hosted overnight camping for other events and has some basic infrastructure to support this.

A report submitted to the council states that using the airfield could generate revenue and boost the local economy.