Comber Leisure Centre is to get a £1.5m refit, following a decision by Ards Council to completely revamp the facility.

The refurbishment proposals include plans to create a much larger Momentum gym in the space currently occupied by the centre's minor hall, increasing the amount of fitness equipment available from 27 separate pieces to 65.

A new studio suitable for a range of fitness and dance classes will also be added, complete with a mezzanine floor.

The children's soft play area is to be re-located, changing facilities and social areas will be made over, while the main synthetic sports pitch and tennis courts will also be re-surfaced.

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The latest announcement follows other recent decisions by the Council to invest substantially in leisure and community facilities.

Local mayor Billy Montgomery, explained: "With a proposed new leisure centre at Dairy Hall in Newtownards, plans to transform Londonderry Park and create new community centres and play areas across the Borough, our investment totals around £30m at this point."

He said: "Comber Leisure Centre needs to be brought up to date and this work will ensure local people have access to modern health and fitness facilities in attractive surroundings.

"The refurbishment also makes economic sense, as a completely re-modelled centre will be much more appealing, generate more usage and, therefore, more income to offset the overall costs of running the centre."

Work is likely to start in the autumn, which will mean the leisure centre will close for approximately three months.

(PR/JM)