BLACKBURN Sports and Leisure Centre and Witton Park Arena will reopen on Monday, the council has confirmed.

It has been lobbying the government for gyms and sporting facilities to reopen since the national easing of restrictions, including the eight areas designated as a protection zone.

The two venues are opening at a slightly later date to other gyms and sporting centres as borough staff have been working in different posts during the pandemic.

Darwen Leisure Centre reopened on September 1.

Cllr Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s leisure boss, said leisure services and the pool at Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre will open on Monday.

The initial opening hours will Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 3pm.

Witton Park Arena will also reopen on Monday.

It will initially be used for a variety of targeted health condition programmes due to spacing restrictions for movement within the centre, and will only being able to run small sessions.