Building work has started on a £7.5m extension of a leisure centre in Coventry.

The new plans for Centre AT7 will see a new 25m swimming pool, splash leisure pool and slides as well as a health suite featuring a spa pool, sauna and steam room.

The extension will also feature new changing rooms and a refurbished reception area.

Modifications will be made to existing buildings to create new function rooms and offices and there will also be an additional 216 parking spaces at the centre, which is under the ownership of the Coventry and Warwickshire Award Trust.

The work will be undertaken by contractor Willmott Dixon and is scheduled to be completed by August 2014.

The extension to the current AT7 comes after a somewhat controversial decision to close the nearby Foleshill Leisure Centre, which was in need of major refurbishment work, however the money has been instead invested into the AT7 extension.

The centre was originally built in 1987 and at present includes a six-court sports hall, fitness suite, exercise studio, hall, climbing wall, ropes course and 10 five-a-side all-weather outdoor pitches.