A new report from North Lanarkshire Leisure (NLL) has revealed that its £10m investment in sports and leisure facilities has generated £41m for the local economy.

The Social Return on Investment Report - compiled by Baker Tilly - has examined the benefits of NLL's range of fitness, health and social inclusion programmes. According to the research, NLL's investment generated £25.5m in savings to the NHS and wider economy and has delivered £1.9m of benefits through its swimming initiative.

An NHS programme has contributed £6.4m worth of benefits, while more than £4.5m has been delivered in projects at Keir Hardie, Shotts and Wishaw. NLL operates 17 facilities across the region, including the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility - a £32m development that was officially opened late last year.

Blane Dodds, chief executive of NLL, said: "North Lanarkshire is one of the UK's most challenging areas in terms of health problems, many of them relating to obesity, poor diet and low levels of participation in exercise. "It is against this backdrop that we set out to deliver real benefits to our local community through a range of progressive programmes and initiatives."