A new leisure centre has opened its doors, with thousands turning up to celebrate.

Rainham Leisure Centre, built on the site of Rainham Recreation Ground in Viking Way, hosted an open weekend on Saturday (July 1), in which more than 2,000 people attended, according to Everyone Active.

The leisure centre, managed by the sports provider in partnership with Havering Council, has ‘dry side facilities’ available.

Its ‘wet facilities’, including a six-lane swimming pool, are scheduled to open later this summer.

Havering Council had earmarked an initial opening date for 2021, but work to build the centre was delayed due to Covid-19.

In July last year, it was estimated that the construction would be completed in June 2023.

Tom Fletcher, area contract manager at Everyone Active, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled at how many people from the local community took the time to come down to the family fun days last weekend.”

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It has free group exercise and gym sessions, cricket on a new recreation ground and a fresh children’s outside play area.

The centre was developed by ReCreation, founded and owned by Olympians Rebecca Adlington OBE and Steve Parry MBE.