FIT and healthy Alcester residents have the chance to enjoy a new sporting facility in the town.

The £1.2 million refurbishment of the Greig is finally finished after a marathon effort by organisers, along with donations from local councils and the National Lottery.

Work started last October on a new health studio and leisure facilities which include a 49 station health studio, dance studio, creche, sports hall, refreshment area and multi-purpose rooms -- which officially opens on Monday.

To celebrate, an open day will be held on Saturday, July 29, when the public and invited guests will be able to enjoy free activities.

The modernisation was aided by £800,000 from Stratford District Council, £150,000 from Alcester Town Council and £100,000 from the Big Lottery fund -- with the remainder of the budget being met by the Hannah Susan Greig Memorial Company Limited.

The project also included improvements to the Greig Memorial Hall with the installation of disabled toilets and refurbishment of existing toilets and kitchen.

The re-launch of the Greig Cycle Hire Centre will also take place as a way for the centre to help attract tourism into the town.

A Living Spaces grant of £23,000 helped fund the landscaping of the Greig riverbank area to include a river walk to a duck colony, the installation of four fishing spots and a large recreational area for visitors to enjoy.

Centre manager Stacy Robinson said: "We are extremely proud to open our new and re-furbished facilities to the local communities of Alcester and the surrounding areas. We hope it meets our users' expectations and in turn attracts more users to help facilitate our self revenued charity.

"We are grateful to Stratford District Council, Alcester Town Council and the Big Lottery in helping to meet the Greig Lifestyles £1.2 million budget, but also to Advantage West Midlands and Advantage Alcester in helping the Greig re-furbish the Greig Hall kitchen/toilets."

He added: "These developments are not only going to help the Greig as an independent self-revenued charity prosper but also deliver its charitable aims in supporting Alcester and the local communities in providing facilities."

For more details, call 01789 400073, email info@thegreig.org.uk or visit www.thegreig.org.uk