PEOPLE looking to get fit and lead healthier lives can take advantage of a new £330,000 gym which has just been unveiled in South Lakeland.

The Fit Zone is a new state of the art gym which has opened at Kendal Leisure Centre along with Time Out, the newly refurbished caf bar which is non-smoking and serves healthy food and drinks.

The new facilities were officially opened by MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron and Chairman of South Lakeland District Council Janette Jenkinson.

John Lyons of South Lakeland Leisure said that the beauty of the facility was that it was available to people who could not afford to join private gyms.

"I have been using gyms for more than 20 years and this is just as good as anything in the private sector. It is also ideal for people who want to get fit but can't afford lengthy contracts as you can pay per session," said Mr Lyons.

Coun Jenkinson said the gym was a "fantastic public asset" and would help people get fit at a time when public health was very much on the political agenda. Mr Farron took part in the ceremony dressed in football kit and trainers, eager to try the facilities, which include treadmills, weights benches and rowing machines, for himself.

"It's much better than the gym at the House of Commons and much cheaper," said Mr Farron.

"It's great that everybody can have access to fantastic facilities such as this without having to make a long-term monetary commitment that they might not be able to afford," he added.

Coun Gwen Murfin said that it would help young people to get fit and avoid childhood obesity which has been hitting headlines in recent months.

"The more young people that can be encouraged to use facilities such as this, the better and I plan to bring youth groups from my ward in the future," she said.