Staff at a leisure centre in Stowmarket are celebrating after receiving a prestigious award.

Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre was awarded ‘excellent’ status by Quest, the UK’s quality scheme for sports and leisure, after ungergoing a rigorous inspection and interview process.

The award is assessed on core modules including community outcomes and customer experience and insight – and the leisure centre scored particuarly highly for its engagement with children and older people across the district.

The Quest report highlighted a number of ‘excellent’ services run by the centre, including chair-based exercise classes and walking sports for the older members in the community, and a Play World and Summer Play World facility for youngsters.

Anselm Gurney, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We are honoured to receive this award. It recognises the extensive range of activities that we offer to encourage Stowmarket’s residents to lead healthier and more active lifestyles.

“I would encourage anyone who is looking to begin their fitness journey to visit the centre and speak with colleagues to find out about the fantastic services available to people across the district.”

Diana Kearsley, Mid Suffolk District Council lead member for health and wellbeing said: “This is a fantastic achievement by the whole team at the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre and I would like to pass on my congratulations to everyone involved.

“We encourage all those who live and work in Mid Suffolk to lead more active lives and leisure centres play a huge role in helping people to do this.

“For those who haven’t yet been along to see for themselves what is on offer, we hope they will now be keen to see these first class facilities and start to enjoy the many benefits of taking exercise.”