Olympic medallist and two-time World Champion hurdler Colin Jackson has been lined up to officially open the new Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre this Spring.

Although the new £22.5million complex opens its doors to the public on Monday, there will be an opening ceremony on April 16.

Jackson won the 110m hurdles silver medal at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and the World titles in Stuttgart (1993) and Seville, six years later.

He is due to be joined by former Leicester City favourites Steve Walsh and Muzzy Izzet, along with former Commonwealth Games gold medlailist swimmer Ross Davenport and Derby County's women's team captain Hannah Ward.

Duncan Gibb of Everyone Active, the company that runs the centre, told Coalville Nub News: "We have a Open Day here on April 16.

"Colin Jackson will be headlining the event, he'll be with Muzzy Izzet and Steve Walsh, both former Leicester City players if course, we work closely with them,

"Ross Davenport and Hannah Ward are also here, and they both helped us re-open the Ashby Lido last year.

"Adrian Clarke is also here from GB badminton. It's a great line up and they'll all be interlinked with a number of activities here on that day.

"We had a big open day in Ashby when we relaunched the leisure centre there, we think this one will be even better.

"We're led to believe that Colin is very good on the interactive side so we're really looking forward to having him here in a couple of months."

Duncan says the scheme has more than gone to plan - with completion five months ahead of schedule.

He added: "I think if a well known Danish brand of alcoholic drinks did leisure centres, then this would be the one.

"For a build programme of this size, this far ahead of schedule, is unheard of."