Council officers and staff have been praised for their work in trying to keep North Warwickshire residents fit and active during lockdown.

Councillors at this week's community and environment board meeting of North Warwickshire Borough Council were told how leisure facilities were dealing with the new 'normal' and that a leisure app was being developed for the area.

But it was the work of staff when centres were closed that drew praise from those at the meeting.

Committee chairman Cllr Margaret Bell (Con, Hartshill) said: "I'd just like to say congratulations to the whole team, for the way they have responded to the particular lockdowns through Covid generally, and how they very quickly got things online. We did as much as we could to keep things going, even though we couldn't meet in person."

And Cllr Denise Clews (Con, Atherstone South and Mancetter) added: "I'd like to echo what you've said and note the excellent service they provided.

"I spoke to many who took part in the classes that went on online and some of them said they actually kept them sane because going to the classes was when they normally had an hour away from the children and it was still something they could continue to do. Sometimes the children tried to take part as well, but they said at least it was something they could look forward to."

A report considered by councillors explained that the new North Warwickshire Leisure App, which should go live in the next few days, intended to make booking sessions at the district's leisure centres easier as well as improving marketing and communication.

And it outlined what progress there had been since reopening in April with approximately 60,000 visits to the centres in Atherstone, Coleshill and Polesworth up to the end of June and with a 20 per cent increase in the number of fitness memberships taken out.

Councillors were also told that holiday activities were taking place across the three sites which will see activities ranging from swimming courses and craft sessions at Atherstone to dance and cheerleading at Coleshill. Summer activities are going ahead at Polesworth after planned building work at the school was postponed.