A NORTH-EAST fitness centre has received a major accolade.

Darlington’s Dolphin Centre was recently crowned the UK’s second most active facility in an international competition.

The centre took part in Technogym’s international ‘Let’s Move for a Better World’ challenge, encouraging members to step it up to win points.

The competition saw facilities across the world pitted against each other to measure the most steps taken by their members.

The Dolphin Centre’s gym members generated over two million steps, with avid users Francis Betiku and Brenda Smith – both 71 – banking more than 250,000 between them.

Mr Betiku said he and Brenda had worked out for three and a half hours a day for three weeks to achieve their target.

He added: “The challenge was great fun, the staff were fabulous, enthusing us and putting on a disco on the last night to give everybody the opportunity to get more moves in.”

As part of the challenge, schools across Darlington were given the opportunity to win new equipment.

Darlington School of Mathematics and Science won a Technogym Arke Functional Kit.

PE teacher Mike Hillary said the school would use the equipment across all year groups to enhance pupil experience and staff delivery.