A REGULAR gym-goer has become the first customer to try out facilities at a new leisure centre.

For the last 40 years, Kathryn Elliott has been a regular user of Belle Vue Leisure Centre, in Consett.

Now the 71-year-old has become the first customer of the Lifestyle Fitness gym at the town’s new leisure centre, which opened for the first time last week as part of a £44m regeneration of facilities in the town including the new Consett Academy school building due to open its doors in September.

She said: “I was honoured to be asked to be the first person to use the new gym.

“The state-of-the-art facilities and equipment are fantastic – and you can look out at the lovely countryside while you are working out as well.

“It’s a wonderful community facility for everyone to use.”

The new leisure centre, owned by Durham County Council and operated by Leisureworks, also has two swimming pools, exercise studios, a range of both indoor and outdoor sports courts, games area and a 4G pitch. An outdoor sprint track is also planned for the site.

The gym is currently operating to a reduced timetable and there are a limited number of adult fitness classes underway from today (MON).

A reduced swimming timetable will operate next weekend (July 25 and 26) before all facilities, apart from the sprint track, fully open from Monday, July 27.