Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre has been shortlisted in the prestigious National Fitness Awards.

The centre, run by leading operator Everyone Active in partnership with North West Leicestershire District Council, is among nine finalists in the Community Involvement category.

The award will honour a gym or individual who has close involvement with their local community, whether that be through charity fundraising, working with local groups, or simply going above and beyond to make the local community a better, healthier place to be.

The National Fitness Awards is an annual event which recognises excellence and achievement in gyms throughout the country with shortlisted facilities being as far north as Aberdeen and as far south as Devon.

The awards are organised by Script Events in conjunction with leading fitness industry magazine Workout, with support from headline sponsor ServiceSport, and in each category up to nine finalists have been selected.

Trophies will be handed out by world and European gold medal-winning athlete Derek Redmond at an awards ceremony on Friday, November 29, at Athena in Leicester.

Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre's state-of-the-art facilities include a 110-station gym, two swimming pools, three group exercise studios, a Clip 'n Climb, three squash courts, an eight-court sports hall, a sauna, a steam room and spa pool, as well as a café and adventure trail.

Duncan Gibb, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "It's a huge honour to be shortlisted for the National Fitness Awards and this reflects the hard work and dedication the site team has put in over the past year.

"They have done a fantastic job. To be selected as a finalist is an achievement in itself and we'd like to thank all of our members for their ongoing support.

"We look forward to November's awards ceremony and in the meantime will continue to focus on getting the local community active."

Councillor Michael Wyatt, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community and Climate Change at NWLDC, said: "We are incredibly proud that Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre has been recognised on a national level for its outstanding contribution to the community.

"This nomination is a testament to the centre's ongoing efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents, especially their work locally.

"The team's dedication to creating a welcoming space for all shows just how much they care about making a positive impact. I wish them the very best at the awards."

The National Fitness Awards' event director, Dominic Musgrave, said: "The National Fitness Awards is now in its 14th year and, with more entries than ever before, our finalists really have reason to celebrate as it's a huge achievement to have made the shortlist and is testament to the teams behind each."