PARKLANDS Leisure Centre is supporting a scheme encouraging local sportspeople to compete on a national level.

The centre is supporting FANS — Free Access for National Sportspeople — on behalf of West Devon Borough Council and is encouraging local sportspeople who compete at a national level to become members so they have free access to the centre's sports and leisure facilities to help with their training.

The scheme was set up to support and encourage the country's elite sportspeople to achieve their full potential by reducing their training costs and giving them free access at designated off-peak times at their local leisure centre.

Jon Smith, contract manager at Parklands, said: 'We are thrilled to be working with FANS scheme. We know how hard it is for athletes to progress with the burden of financial worries and it's great to know that we're in a position to help some of our country's elite sportspeople. Who knows, we might have the next Bradley Wiggins in our midst.'

For more information call Parklands on 01837 659154.