A MAKEOVER of the Stourport sports centre - costing almost half a million pounds - has been completed.

The previously "tired" centre, in Harold Davies Drive, has been transformed, with a new £360,000 open plan extension housing new, state-of-the-art fitness suite which cost £132,000 to kit out.

Damian Watts, general manager, said: "The fitness suite is absolutely fantastic. The sports centre was built in the 1970s and was a bit tired but this has given it a new lease of life."

He said as well as the new building, housing the latest cardio-vascular equipment, resistance machinery and a free weights area, the reception area at the district council-owned sports centre had been given a makeover and there was new disabled-accessible changing.

In addition, the old gym has been converted into an aerobics studio.

Three new full-time members of staff had also been taken on to run the new 60-capacity facility, Mr Watts said, and membership had been "selling like hot cakes".

Mr Watts added: "We have had 150 new members since we opened in November. We are trying to get away from the more exclusive image - for instance, we welcome children - we want to benefit the health of the wider local community.

A family membership and reduced fees for pensioners were helping promote its popularity, added Mr Watts, who works for DC Leisure, which manages the sports centre in partnership with the district council.