A Bradford gym which underwent a £750,000 make-over was officially unveiled by a television star.

Holme Wood-born, Jenny Metcalfe, 23, who plays Mercedes McQueen in Hollyoaks, attended Thornton Recreation Centre, on Leaventhorpe Lane, Bradford, to see the transformation.

"The gym is amazing, I'll definitely be coming up and using it whenever I'm back in Bradford," said Miss Metcalfe who now lives in Liverpool.

Members of the public came to see the new facilities funded by Pulse Fitness at noon on Saturday, January 20.

Upgrades include a refurbishment of the fitness area and the addition of a second fitness area to cater for 11 to 15-year-olds, special needs groups and for specialist programmes on diabetes and obesity.

Centre manager Simon Turner said: "It stands up against any other local authority facilities in the country."

Greg Walker, of Pulse Fitness, called in Miss Metcalfe, formerly a membership sales advisor at the company. He said: "We're extremely happy, they've done an excellent job and we're now looking to drive up membership."

The centre is run in partnership with Thornton Grammar School, Pulse Fitness and Bradford Council. It now opens from 6.30am on Tuesdays to Thursdays.