This month, Howe Bridge Sports Centre is celebrating 30 years of operation.

The £1.3m facility, located near Atherton and now operated by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, was opened in March 1977 by the Duchess of Gloucester.

The celebrate its anniversary, the centre is undergoing a £215,000 refurbishment, due for completion in April, which includes new male and female disabled changing rooms; family and group changing facilities; improved shower facilities; vanity facilities including hairdryers and shaving points; new ceilings, lighting and decoration and improved flooring throughout the changing rooms.

The sports centre will remain open for the remainder of the refurbishment, however the swimming pool will be closed to the public from 2-6 April.

Denise Grundy, Howe Bridge Sports Centre manager, said: "We are very proud of all we have achieved at Howe Bridge over the years and we are looking forward to the start of a new era.

“The site has continued to develop from the quite basic facilities we had in the seventies and eighties through to the state-of-the-art equipment we have here today.”

A 30th anniversary party is being held on the evening of 31 March. Details: www.wlct.org