Watford Borough Council has appointed management company SLM to operate two of its leisure centres on a 10-year contract.

The partnership will see SLM take over the management of two new facilities, the Watford Central and Watford Woodside centres, which also incorporates Woodside Athletics Stadium, previously operated by the borough council.

Facilities at the Watford Central site include a 5,500sq ft (530sq m) 60-station gym fitness suite, a six-lane, 25m swimming pool, learner pool, a four-court sports hall and climbing wall.

The centre also boasts dance studios, a crèche and a café.

The Watford Woodside centre houses an eight-lane 25m competition swimming pool with viewing area and spectator area, an eight-court sports hall and a 3,000sq ft (280sq m), 100-station gym fitness suite.

The site also boasts dance studios, squash courts and treatment rooms.

Outdoor facilities include an all-weather football pitch.

The two sites have been designed and constructed on behalf of Watford Borough Council at a cost of £23m.

To make way for the new centres, the Borough Council will close the Bill Evert Community Centre on 18 May.

The SLM contract will commence in May of this year.