THE manager of Chirk's leisure centre believes reopening on Bank Holiday Monday was worthwhile after a busy first day.

David Watkin, centre manager at Chirk Leisure and Activity Centre, was pleased to welcome people back through the doors after four months of closure in line with Covid-19 lockdown rules.

Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools have been allowed to reopen after the Welsh Government removed some of the restrictions which were previously in place.

The Chirk site decided to open on Bank Holiday Monday to give members the opportunity to return to the gym and swimming pool as early as possible.

"It's great to be back," David said. "We've been shut for over four months, so we're really excited to be back.

"We made the effort to open up on Bank Holiday Monday to give our members an opportunity to come back and exercise with us.

"I think people have really missed having the opportunity to exercise.

"We know it's good for people's physical and mental health, and we understand how important that is, so we're trying to get our opening hours back to what they were before lockdown to give people the best opportunity to come and exercise with us.

"Monday morning was busy – we had several activities on, and the gym was open.

"We had classes on in the hall and we also had free swimming throughout the day for families and the response to it all was great.

"The weather may have helped us, but it was great."

Organised children’s indoor activities and indoor adult fitness classes were also permitted to resume on Monday, and two households can now form an exclusive bubble and meet indoors.

The Welsh Government said the changes meant Wales will have moved to Alert Level 3.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said last week: “The public health situation continues to improve and our vaccination programme remains a success.

“Thanks to the efforts of people across Wales, we are in a position to further ease the restrictions, in the way we have previously signalled, to allow more elements of normal life to return."

For more information about Chirk Leisure and Activity Centre, call 01691 778666.