BLACKBURN’S £2.3 million Witton Arena, which opened last April, has broken records for new membership.

Borough leisure bosses had hoped to sign up 1,000 members for the complex in the first year but already has almost 1,300 with two months to go before the deadline.

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As well as residents attending to use the new fitness suites and running tracks, the town’s athletic club has seen a boost in membership.

A separate Couch To 5k club to encourage the unfit to take up jogging has got 1,000 participants starting the journey to good health.

The development by Blackburn with Darwen Council saw a new main arena building, indoor 60m six-lane warm up/training track, new changing facilities, covered outdoor terracing for spectators, and a club room open in April.

There is a 45-station gym suite with views across the park, changing rooms and a fitness studio for spinning and exercise classes.

In November, the refurbished £320,000 athletics track opened. It had been resurfaced and extended to eight lanes.

There were upgrades to the long-jump pits and runways, new cages for hammer and discus, and new LED floodlights.

The complex is used by Blackburn Harriers & Athletic Club as a training facility year round. Secretary George Davies said membership has grown steadily to 500 since the arena opened. He said the facility has helped the club’s athletes win medals in the recent Northern Championships in Sheffield.

Council leisure boss Damian Talbot said: “The new Witton Arena is an amazing building within the picturesque Witton Park and we are delighted with the number of people who are benefiting from the facilities.

“In the first six months we wanted 700, rising to 1,000 after a year. We signed up 1,282 by the first week of February.

“The new facility is proving extremely popular and value for money.”

Mr Davies said: “This is a fantastic new arena and proving a great success.”