Bilston now has a state-of-the-art leisure centre following completion of building work on the new £18.6m facility by main contractor Shepherd Construction on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council.

The 5,600m² centre, which is now being kitted out by centre staff in readiness for the official opening on December 3 replaces the ageing Bilston Leisure Centre and will provide a dramatically increased range of facilities for all the family.

They include an eight-lane, 25m swimming pool, a studio pool, sauna, dance studio and a health and fitness suite kitted out with the very latest equipment.

In addition, there will be four squash courts, a sports hall which can be used for badminton, basketball, netball, volleyball and five-a-side football, dedicated gym equipment for older people and a special gym for youngsters aged eight to 15. A crèche and meeting room are also provided.

Peter Millett, managing director for Shepherd Construction's West Division, said: "We are delighted to hand over such an exciting new building to Wolverhampton City Council. The leisure centre will provide fantastic facilities that the local community can benefit from for years to come."

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "I am delighted that the project is finishing on track and that we have now been presented with the keys to the building.

"We will be spending the next few weeks fitting it out with a wide range of exercise equipment and so on, but it won't be long before local people will be able to enjoy the facility for the first time."

The Nettlefolds Way centre will be opened for the first time next month by Bert Williams MBE, the legendary Wolves and England goalkeeper who grew up in Bradley, and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Bert Turner, with a short ceremony due to begin at 10am.