Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre has won the Best Local Sports Centre category in the annual London-wide Smooth FM Awards.

Run in conjunction with the Independent newspaper and ITV London, the awards invited listeners to nominate their favourite local facilities across a range of categories, spanning everything from restaurants and cafes to cinemas and music venues.

Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre offers local residents the use of three swimming pools, a newly refurbished fitness centre, dance studio and café. It employs 25 full time and 50 sessional staff and hosts more than 270,000 visitors each year.

The centre is operated by charitable Social Enterprise Greenwich Leisure in partnership with Barnet Council.

In addition to the new £250,000 gym area, which boasts the latest Easyline fitness equipment and a dedicated stretch area, the centre is also renowned for its comprehensive swimming programmes. These range from an elite training scheme run in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association, to lessons for under 5s, diving, synchronised swimming and water workout sessions.

GLL partnership manager for Barnet, Clare Boston said: "We are delighted that our efforts and those of our team members have been recognised, particularly having been up against such touch competition from across the Capital.

"The Smooth FM Award is particularly important because we were nominated by our customers. Hearing their ringing endorsement of the work we do and the service we provide at the Awards ceremony was a huge boost. The win will keep us motivated as we work to maintain and the exceed the high standard of service we offer the local community."

A spokesperson for Barnet Council added: "We are delighted to see one of Barnet Council's services praised, especially as it demonstrates how our services, in this instance delivered with GLL, play such a part in making the borough a great place to live and work."