A COMMUNITY gym with a difference is now open for public use.

The Alresford Fresh Air Gym, an outdoor facility at Perins School, in Alresford, has been completed and will be officially opened in March.

Located next to Evolution Health & Fitness, on the Perins playing field, it is open all year, includes 12 pieces of all-weather equipment and is free.

The exercise equipment, on which the user’s body weight creates the resistance, has been permanently installed and mounted on rubber matting and is suitable for anyone older than 12 and for all abilities.

The gym was the result of a successful bid for a BIG Lottery grant and additional funding provided by New Alresford Town Council and Hampshire County Council’s Community Challenge fund. It was developed between Perins School and the Perins Community team, who will be organising a series of training sessions for people to come along and try out the equipment under supervision, however, each piece is labelled with exercise instructions so people can come and use it at any time.

Perins head of sports specialism, Rorie Whybro, said: “We have carefully selected the equipment for the Fresh Air Gym to suit all the community.

“It is suitable for the school’s students and also for the rest of the local community, including the town’s pensioners. “We hope people will come along and make good use of this fantastic facility.”

For information call 01962 737283.