Bicester and Ploughley Sports Centre has opened its new gym, part of the planned £25m revamp of three north Oxfordshire leisure centres.

Cherwell's community, health and environment chief, George Reynolds, and the council's head of leisure, Paul Marston Weston, were invited to the centre in Queen's Avenue, to cut a ribbon and officially open the gym.

The facility has more than 95 pieces of cardio vascular and resistance equipment set out over two floors. There is also a separate area for students from Bicester Community College to use.

Health and fitness manager Sarah Kearney said: "Bicester and Ploughley Sports Centre is the first of the three north Oxfordshire leisure centres to have a new gym.

"This is just the first section of many changes. Improvements will be made to the changing rooms, the sauna and steam room, plus there will be a six-lane ten-pin bowling alley and work needs to be done to the swimming pool. The whole project is set to be completed by mid May 2009."

Under a contract with Cherwell Leisure Limited, Parkwood Community Leisure manages Bicester and Ploughley Sports Centre, and operates Kidlington and Gosford Sports Centre, and Spiceball Park Sports Centre, Banbury, on behalf of Cherwell District Council.

Mr Reynolds said: "I am pleased to open this new centre, the first phase of Cherwell's sports centre modernisation. I'm sure that residents will enjoy using the excellent sports equipment on offer."

Bicester and Ploughley attracts 380,000 annual visitors, Kidlington and Gosford 270,000 and Spiceball Park 525,000.