Blackpool Council has invested £200,000 in the refurbishment of the health and fitness facilities at the Blackpool Sports Centre.

The eight-month revamp has more than doubled the size of the health club area - from 136sq (1,500sq ft) m to 300sq m (3,200sq ft) - and included the upgrading of the gym equipment.

Supplier Life Fitness was appointed to refit the gym, and the company created zones catering for rehabilitation groups such as respiratory, cardiac, children and people with limited mobility.

According to a spokesperson, in the last three months, 22 per cent of memberships have come from GP referrals and since the refurbishment membership sales are up 149 per cent, compared to October 2008.

The club now offers more than 60 cv and resistance stations and an exercise studio for group classes.

Other facilities at the centre include an outdoor sports arena with a 400m running track, two full-sized all weather football and hockey pitches, four seven-a-side hockey pitches, four five-a-side football pitches and six floodlit netball courts.

Indoor sport amenities include climbing and bouldering walls.