A LEISURE centre saved from closure by the community has celebrated its fifth year as it goes from strength to strength.

Hundreds of people flocked to Cricklade Leisure Centre to join in with the festivities, including a party on Saturday night and a range of free exercise sessions.

The centre was only saved in 2007 when the Keep Leisure in Cricklade group agreed to take it over from North Wiltshire District Council.

At the time even ex- Premiership football star Matt Le Tissier, who played for Southampton and England declared his support for the battle.

“It’s vital these things stay open – it’s for the kids’ health more than anything,” he said.

Manager Gary Walker, who was one of the leaders of the campaign group, said local people helped to keep the centre alive.

He said: “We had all sorts going on, such as fitness challenges and football challenges as well as a party on Saturday night.

“We’ve had hundreds of people come in and everybody enjoyed themselves.”

The fortunes of the Cricklade centre are in stark contrast to another similar venture, at the Highworth Rec, which amassed debts of more than £500,000.

Mr Walker said the Cricklade centre has been well used and membership has rocketed from zero to 600 people.

He said: “We took over five years ago from the council who did not think it was viable.

“It’s great for the staff, the committee and the community that we can show we are still here.

“I think there are a number of reasons for that – none of us had a leisure background but we were all professional people.

“We never ran it voluntarily and we said it would have to be a proper business.

“It was always clear that it was use it or lose it and since we took over membership has kept growing.

“We started off with zero and now we are on 600. We’ve refurbished the tennis courts, installed a climbing wall and are about to do the cafe and the gym.

“When the council left they took everything, the computers, the paperwork, they even cancelled the phone lines. It was one of the sharpest learning curves for all of us. But we can say we are still here and that’s down to the staff and the committee.”