A not-for-profit trust has taken over management of council-run leisure facilities in the county borough of Torfaen in Wales.

The Pontypool Ski Slope, Cwmbran Stadium and Fairwater Leisure Centre will al be operated by the newly-formed Torfaen Leisure Trust – a move designed to create a more efficient service.

Torfaen County Borough Council will continue to fund the facilities but have recently had budget cuts of four per cent to five per cent total.

The council said that the move would create a more sustainable model for the delivery of services, while Torfaen Leisure Trust said that services would be run more commercially, with an emphasis on sales and marketing.

Other local authorities in the area have already made similar moves with Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend handing over the day-to-day running of leisure facilities to outside companies.

It is expected many other councils will soon make similar moves in an attempt to balance the budget after cuts.