A £3million new swimming pool and fitness centre is set for take-off at a South Fylde air base.

British Aerospace's sports and social club hopes to win lottery cash in the new year for the Warton centre which will be open to the public. Planned to open in 1999, it will have a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, health and fitness suite, aerobics hall, sauna and whirlpool baths, a hair salon, medical assessment centre, cafe and shop.

The location, next to the club's new sports hall in Mill Lane, is outside the aircraft factory's perimeter fence and the hope is that it will be well used by the community.

A BAe spokesman said: "We have a sports development plan for young people, identifying youngsters to bring on their particular skills and working with the YMCA and other bodies.

"We're also keen to include the disabled, making the facilities as accessible as possible.

"And we have an Active for Life fitness plan for older people as well as a talent scheme to identify gifted youngsters and develop their skills."

The Warton plant's 7,000 employees are also expected to make good use of the facilities in their leisure time.

Unlike Blackpool and Wyre, Fylde borough has no council-run sports centre, though it has swimming pools in St Annes and Kirkham.

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