DOORS are opening again at Worcester’s sports centres.

Councillor James Stanley, chair of Worcester City Council’s communities committee, said: “People across the city have been waiting for this news and I’m delighted that they can once again start to exercise and get fit in our first class leisure and sports centres.”

Worcester’s popular Perdiswell Leisure Centre – home to the city’s championship-standard swimming pool – will be open again from July 25.

And a week later the city’s other two main sports centres, St John's and Nunnery Wood, will also be back in action, from August 1.

Worcester City Council and Freedom Leisure have jointly made the announcement, and have given details of the arrangements that will be in place at the sports centres to ensure people can remain safe while they exercise.

Ivan Horsfall-Turner, MD of Freedom Leisure, which operates the sports centres on behalf of Worcester City Council, said: “It’s hugely exciting to be welcoming back both members and non-members to the excellent facilities.

"We are working hard to put appropriate social distancing measures in place so that our customers can feel safe and confident to return to their leisure centres.”

All facilities will open at each centre but a small number of activities – including five-a-side football and mixed martial arts – will not be available due to current Government guidance.

Customers will need to book in advance for gym sessions, lane swimming and group exercise classes, so that numbers can be managed, to adhere to social distancing requirements, and to ensure there is adequate time between sessions for areas to be thoroughly cleaned so that the highest standards of hygiene can be maintained at all times.

There will be hand sanitiser stations throughout each centre and customers are asked to do their best to support the centre teams to keep facilities clean and safe for everyone.