NEW Addington's leisure centre reopened last Friday, having been closed since April for refurbishment.

The doors opened at 6.30am, and on Saturday and Sunday there was a weekend of free swimming for visitors, to mark the reopening.

It had been thought the £300,000 revamp would not be finished in time for the school holidays after mindless youths began terrorising the building.

But the work still finished on schedule allowing for a "very busy" first weekend back in business.

Lewis Harvey, general manager of the leisure centre, said: "It has been really well received and the feedback we have had from the customers has been fantastic.

"People have been saying 'it's about time this was done' and they can see drastic changes.

"It's somewhere they can be proud of. The community has been very loyal to us and in a way this is a reward for their loyalty."

Users of the centre will have noticed new floors in the activity studios, brand new changing rooms, cubicles and showers and a newly painted poolside.