Two fitness centres designed to combat obesity and physical inactivity among children will be officially launched this month.

Opening at the Magnum Leisure Centre in Irvine, Scotland, the two facilities have been tailored to meet the needs of specific age groups.

Equipped by Panatta Kids, the KIDS health and fitness centre will cater for children aged 6-11 years old. The area will offer 16 machines including four treadmills and four bikes set in a vibrantly-coloured area, while the SHOKK-branded gym will cater for children aged 11-16 years old with treadmills, a water rower and disk-loaded machines which complement the SHOKK lightweight Olympic disks.

The facilities have been funded by an award of £53,700 from the Big Lottery Fund and a similar sum from North Ayrshire Leisure, a trust which manages the facility.

Available on a pay-as-you-go basis costing £2.50 per visit, the facilities are being piloted with a view to rolling the model out across Ayrshire if successful.

Schools can also benefit from the project, which allows 20 schools a free four-week block of fitness coaching per year, with 12 schools already signed up to the scheme.

“Our new gyms will allow us to extend our work by providing a whole fitness programme for young people in North Ayrshire that is exclusively theirs, including workshops promoting healthier lifestyles, nutrition and fitness assessments,” said John Burt, project coordinator for North Ayrshire Leisure.

“We are really excited about the project and confident the new gyms will allow us to reach far and wide into the community and build relationships with young people in a safe environment.”