This is the first look inside Haden Hill Leisure Centre as its £700,000 revamp gets under way.

More than £760,000 is being spent on improving the Cradley Heath centre with a new changing village, main entrance and reception area. It is hoped all improvement works will be completed by the end of the year.

The centre is remaining open during the project.

The modernisation will see the main entrance relocated and converted into an open-plan, modern reception environment.

It is hoped this will help handle the increased number of visitors to the centre from successful activities such as the current free swimming initiative. There will also be improved disabled access.

The work has been funded by Sport England and Sandwell Leisure Trust, and the cash is made up of a £385,000 grant from Sport England and a combined match funding contribution of £302,000 from the borough council and leisure trust.

An additional £84,000 government funding was secured by the leisure trust through the Free Swimming Capital Modernisation Programme.

The work is being carried out by GF Tomlinson (Birmingham) Ltd.

Assistant manager Ian King said: “Work started in July in transforming the Barrs Road centre’s tired looking changing areas into a state-of-the-art changing village.

“The existing changing facilities will be extended and modernised to create much needed improvements to family and disability changing areas as well as improved facilities for its customers.

“The new reception and refurbished foyer area will not only look better, but will improve customer service.”