WORK will start next week on a £200,000 scheme to upgrade fitness facilities and install new sports equipment at a leisure centre.

The gym at Hambleton Leisure Centre, in Northallerton, will be closed for five weeks while the work is carried out.

Equipment from Life Fitness, the world's leading commercial fitness equipment manufacturer, will be installed.

When the scheme is complete, more than 40 fitness stations will be available, with modern cardiovascular machines, resistance machines and free weights.

The gym will be redecorated and the room extended to incorporate the extra equipment. New flooring, lighting and furniture will be fitted and the television and music systems will be upgraded.

A new room will be created near the pool to accommodate the creche, children's party dinners and community meetings.

The cost of the scheme includes about £30,000, which has been set aside to pay for fitness equipment for young people, including dance mats for aerobic classes.

Leisure centre manager Paula Ferguson said: "This is a fantastic project which will completely transform the gym, as well as enable us to further develop our programme for children and young people, one of our priority groups."

While the gym is closed, the equipment will be transferred to a temporary facility at Hambleton Forum, in Bullamoor Road, a mile away from the leisure centre.

The transfer will take place on Friday and Saturday, with the temporary gym opening on Sunday.

Ms Ferguson said: "This weekend is going to be a busy time as we lug all the existing equipment to Hambleton Forum, but we were keen to ensure that customers in Northallerton could continue to work out during the build-up to the festive season so moving its location is an important part of the project."

The new gym is due to open at the leisure centre on December 17.

Further details of the scheme and opening times of the temporary facility are available at www.hambleton.gov.uk, or by picking up a leaflet at the centre.