Fitness fans in Oxford are set to benefit after a sports centre got a £500,000 facelift.

Oxford Brookes University's Westminster Sports Centre, at the Harcourt Hill campus, has thrown open its doors to the local community after the five-month-long overhaul was completed.

The centre, which was officially reopened this week, has a new cafe and fitness studio, reception and refurbished changing rooms.

The centre, which has been gradually reopening since September, will also be used by degree students on the university's sports and coaching programme - giving them work experience in management and marketing.

Eighteen community groups, including schools, have already arranged to use the indoor and outdoor facilities at the centre.

Hilary Lowe, assistant dean of the university's Westminster Institute of Education, said: "It's very light, airy, up-to-date and modern.

"We're very involved in the community and we work a lot in partnership with a lot of organisations. Having gone through a major refurbishment, we're keen to make sure we are giving access to the wider community."

She added: "They can use facilities as individuals by joining the swimming club that's based there. They can also join the fitness studio, which is new, and which we're particularly proud of. They can also enjoy badminton and other sports."

She said the facilities were also open to other sports clubs and schools - including Peers School and the Oxford Football Academy.

She added: "We have had a real increase in the number of organisations who have booked to use it. We also have an increasing number of schools using the swimming facilities and the football pitches.

"We take our role in the community and in the region very seriously, so it's fantastic that we are able to offer something concrete, which will also contribute to the development of our degree programmes."