The new Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre was officially opened to the public on Saturday.

With the site ready within its £10m budget and on time, chairman of Epping Forest District Council Councillor Richard Bassett and area manager for operators Places Leisure Dave Jolliffe were there to officially declare the centre open.

Staff showed visitors around the new facilities and invited them to try free taster sessions including swimming, indoor cycling classes and junior activities.

Councillor Helen Kane, portfolio holder for leisure and community services at the council, said: “It was such a pleasure to be at the opening of the new centre.

"It will be a great asset for the area and will help improve the health and wellbeing of our community.”

The former leisure centre at Roundhills closed on November 7.

It will now be demolished and the site either sold to developers, fully or partly, or kept for affordable housing projects by the council.

Mr Joliffe said: “It was a fantastic day and we were delighted to welcome so many members of our community to their new leisure home on our first official day of opening.

"As a social enterprise it’s our mission to create active places and healthy people and we hope that the new venue and facilities will inspire even more of our community to come along and try a new sport or activity or just pop in to socialise with their friends and family.

"There really is something for everyone from parent and baby classes to indoor cycling, aqua aerobics and mindfulness sessions.”