STAFF at Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre are celebrating a successful start to its 20th anniversary year.

The centre has received confirmation of an industry quality award and been awarded a score that puts it in the top one per cent of all leisure centres in the country.

Quest is the leisure industry's quality assessment award scheme and is run in conjunction with Sport England.

Every aspect of the management and day-to-day running of the centre was externally assessed, including health and safety, cleanliness, marketing and maintenance of equipment and marks on a one to 10 scale were awarded.

The centre scored a mark of 79 per cent in a two-day-assessment and interview process, which was two per cent higher than the score achieved in 2003, when the centre was awarded the highest facility management score in the country.

Stuart Booton, contract manager, said: "This is a nationally recognised award and demonstrates the staff's commitment to providing a high quality service."