Hundreds flock to new Wellington leisure centre

Hundreds of people poured through the doors of Wellington's new leisure centre to experience its new hi-tech gym, staff have revealed.

The leisure centre opened on Monday following a major refurbishment and people were queuing out of the door to get to use the new facilities, it has been claimed. Visitors have been signing up for the new-look gym, which now has a third more equipment than the previous facility.

The work is part of £8.5 million investment in the Borough Towns Initiative which has seen major work carried out at the leisure centre and civic offices.

• See more pictures in our gallery to your right

The fitness suite, which has new dedicated changing rooms and showers, includes 40 pieces of equipment and Cybex cardiovascular equipment which have TVs.

The swimming pool has a new changing village with cubicles of various sizes and extensive locker provision.

Robin Glover, Wellington Leisure Centre manager, said about 500 people had visited the centre on the first day.

Mark Moore, Telford & Wrekin Council's group operations manager, said: "The response has been terrific. The opening day was very, very busy and it has continued in the same vain."

Three Wellington friends Vera Hodgkins, 70, Jane Martin, 68, and Wendy Rudd, 67, are thrilled with the new facilities.

Mrs Martin said: "It's very good. The three of us all had heart attacks and we have been coming for about four years and it has helped us a lot.

"We have not got used to the new gym, but it looks fantastic. It is much nicer now."