The canoeing and kayaking events in the 2012 London Olympics will be held at the Showground in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, it has been confirmed.

The site was chosen after the discovery of contamination at the original choice of Spitalbrook last October which made its proposed development unviable.

The new site is six miles closer to the Olympic Park in east London.

"This is very good news," said chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, Sebastian Coe.

Campbell Walsh's guide to kayaking

"It gives us a world-class venue for Games time and an excellent facility for elite athlete and community usage after the Games, living up to our promise of leaving a lasting legacy for sport."