The first phase of a £24m redevelopment of Waltham Forest's leisure centres has been unveiled with the re-opening of Leyton Gym.

The overhaul of the borough's leisure centre forms part of the council's regeneration plans, which will see the redevelopment of five-leisure centre in the coming year.

New facilities at Leyton Gym include a 70-station gym with cardio and resistance equipment and a free weights area.

The next phase will take place at Leyton Leisure Lagoon, which will see the addition of a 25m swimming pool, a sauna, steamroom, new water and play features and two group exercise studios.

Waltham Forest Pool and Track's redevelopment plans are also on track and include a mettle-testing climbing wall, two new five-a-side football pitches and new kids' facilities.

The existing facilities - swimming pool, diving zone, gym and athletics track - will all be brought up to spec as part of the rebuild.

Elsewhere, Cathall Leisure Centre is to be extended and refurbished, with a new sports hall, larger fitness suite, new studio and ICT suite.

Larkswood Leisure Centre and Kelmscott Leisure Centre will also be refurbished.

Ahsan Khan, Waltham Forest's cabinet member said: "One of our major pledges to make Waltham Forest a better place is to give local people access to first-rate leisure opportunities."

"These new facilities have got our plans off to a flying start, and our residents have already been flocking to Leyton Gym to make good on their New Year's resolutions."