Sport England has confirmed it has awarded a 15-year management deal for two of Sport England's key National Sports Centres - Bisham Abbey and Lilleshall - to government services giant Serco.

According to Sport England, the deal will allow the national governing bodies which use the centres to retain their "priority booking rights", while giving Serco a free hand to concentrate on developing commercial activities that will "underpin the future of both venues".

Keith Thomas, managing director of Serco's leisure business, said: "It's fantastic to think that we now have such a fundamental role in maintaining and improving the nation's sporting fabric."

Sport England Chair Richard Lewis added: "We were hugely impressed with Serco's ideas for improving the sporting offer at both venues."

Serco currently runs 65 leisure facilities for community leisure trusts, local authorities and universities.

Sport England also confirmed that Plas y Brenin, the national mountain centre in Wales, will remain under the management of the Mountain Training Trust for the next 15 years.