A COMMUNITY which took advantage of a mobile gym has been rewarded with its own permanent facility.

The community gym at Wolsingham School and Community College was set up with a £15,000 grant from Sport England.

It is one of four new community-run facilities set up following the success of the mobile gym called Wellness on Wheels (Wow). It was because the £1m mobile gym, which has been touring the Wear Valley area, had been such a success that communities asked for it to become a permanent fixture.

So far, 45 members have signed up and volunteers are hoping to create a successful venture and pay the grant money back within 12 months.

Gym manager Darren Brown said: "We have about ten volunteers who are all being trained, and we offer classes such as pilates, aerobics and circuit training. It has created a lot of interest and we are hoping that once people in and around the village know we are here we will get a lot more members."

Wow is backed by Wear Valley district Council, Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, Sport England, The Northern Echo, Northumbrian Water, Techno-gym and the Leader Plus fund.

Anyone wanting more information about the gym or any of the classes, is asked to call (01388) 527302.