Basildon residents have been invited to the official opening of two brand new exciting new sports facilities.

State-of-the-art facilities at Eversley Leisure Centre, Pitsea have recently been opened including 3G football pitches and a new gymnastics hall, and members of the public have been invited to try out the new centre on Saturday July 22 from 12-4pm.

South Essex Gymnastics Club has transformed the facility into a contemporary gymnastics facility, and has invited members of the community to watch a training session from 12-1pm before a demonstration from some of the club's elite athletes. From 2-4pm, SEGC will also host a series of taster sessions that will give people the opportunity to get active and try the new equipment, however places must be booked by emailing events@southessexgym.co.uk.

Everyone Active has also partnered with Bowers & Pitsea Football Club to host a number of local friendlies on the new 3G turf between 12pm – 1.30pm. The pitches will then be opened up to the public from 2.30pm – 4pm, who are invited to take part in games, penalty shootouts, crossbar challenges and walking football sessions.

£570,000 has been invested into the renovation of the leisure centre by Basildon Council, and the Mayor of Basildon, Councillor David Dadds, will attend to officially cut the ribbon and welcome people to the gym.

The council's investment was also joined by £230,000 from the South Essex Gymnastics Club and £123,900 from the Veolia Pitsea Marshes Maintenance Trust.

Councillor Kevin Blake, Basildon Council’s chairman of the leisure, culture and environment committee, said: “This event is a great opportunity for the local community to come down to the Eversley Centre and see the difference this investment has made.

"The development of a second gymnastics hub for the borough is a great opportunity for young people to try the sport for the first time. Together with the new 3G pitches they will help boost participation in sport and tackle local health inequalities.”