TWO worn-out treadmills at a community gym have been replaced with a grant from a local company.

The running machines at the Pelton Community Centre were bought when the gym opened in 2012 and have since been used by hundreds of people.

Pelton Community Association, which runs the Front Street centre, has been awarded a £10,214 grant from the Banks Community Fund to buy replacements.

The community gym is open six days a week and has around 1,400 members, with fees kept as low as possible to encourage people to get fit.

Hyleen Wood of Pelton Community Association said: “The gym was set up to offer an affordable fitness facility in an area where private gym costs would be beyond the reach of many local people, and we installed a range of reconditioned equipment when we opened which has proved very popular. “The gym has three treadmills, all of which are constantly in use by everyone from older members who walk at a controlled gentle pace through to serious runners who are wanting to escape the winter weather.

“The two treadmills we’ve replaced have been starting to show their age in the last couple of years, and regularly having to take one or both of them out of service for repairs has been frustrating for members”.

“We try to keep our costs as low as possible, so that we remain accessible to anyone wanting to get a bit fitter and healthier, and the cost of bringing in new treadmills like these was way beyond our means and we were simply expecting to keep using the old ones until they broke down completely.

“The response we’ve had from members has been terrific - they love how the new reliable machines are always available to use, and we’re hopeful that this generous funding from the Banks Group will see more local people coming along to see how we can help them become a bit fitter and healthier.”

Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at the Banks Group, adds: “The Pelton community gym makes a big impact on the health and well-being of hundreds of local people, and as a local County Durham business, we’re very happy to be supporting the invaluable service it provides.”

Anyone interested in applying for funding should contact James Eaglesham at the Banks Community Fund on 0191 378 6342 to check if their group or project is eligible.