TOM Lancashire has one more chance to make it to the Olympic Games after missing out on the 1500m qualifying time on Saturday night.

The Bolton Harrier, bidding to become only the third Boltonian to go to London 2012, failed to get the 3mins 35.5secs qualifying time in a Grand Prix meeting in Lille.

He clocked 3.38.84 in finishing eighth in a race won by his GB rival Andy Baddeley.

Former Turton High School pupil Lancashire, aged 26, who only returned to racing three weeks ago after a year out with injury and a blood disorder, must now get the qualifying time in Prague on Monday night or miss out on his dream of getting to this year’s Olympics.

After his third race since coming back from his prolonged absence, he said: “I am really disappointed as I felt miles better than I did when I ran my last race (when he ran 3:38.00 in Holland two weeks ago).”

Lancashire was the GB number one before his extended absence from racing began in October, 2010.

He was widely written off as a prospect for this summer’s games, and did not change many people’s minds when he ran 3:43.6 in his first race back three weeks ago.

He suddenly put himself firmly back in the frame when he knocked more than five and a half seconds off that time in Holland, and encouraging training sessions saw him go to Lille in good heart.

He felt he was in with a chance of getting the time he needed on Saturday night until he struggled to get out after being boxed in.

He immediately flies to the Czech Republic to prepare for his last chance of getting the qualifying time in Prague on Monday.

Lancashire competed in the last Olympic Games as well as the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

The only two Boltonians who look certain to go to the Olympics this year are GB duo, track cyclist Jason Kenny and water polo goalkeeper Ed Scott.