STRATFORD Park Leisure Centre has invested £100,000 into its facilities to accommodate a rising number of members.

The centre, run by Everyone Active in partnership with Stroud District Council, has invested the money in new equipment and an extension of the gym since membership has more than doubled.

When Everyone Active started running the leisure centre just over a year ago there were 750 gym members.  Now there are more than 1,800.

Dan Coleman, general manager, said: "We have been listening to what our members have been telling us.

"We have significantly more members now than we did 12 months ago and the extension will help to cater for all of them."

The investment includes 18 new pieces of gym equipment such as treadmills, bikes, cross trainers and a squat rack and new resistance machines.

Councillor June Cordwell, executive member for community services SDC, said: "The investment also includes televisions, additional matting to the gym area and the redecoration of the activity hall to give it more of a studio feel."

The work has just started and is due to be completed by Saturday, January 26, when the centre will be hosting an open weekend. 

There will be little disruption caused to members throughout this period.

For more details on the open weekend go to www.everyoneactive.com