RESIDENTS in Selby have been invited to choose the name for the town's new leisure centre.

A competition has been launched to urge residents to submit names for the new Scott Road centre, with the winner being given a 12-month membership to the facility.

The competition has been organised by Selby District Council with Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, which provides the authority's leisure services, ahead of the leisure centre's opening next year.

Councillor Gillian Ivey, deputy leader of the council, said: "We want the new leisure centre to be used by lots of people so we want to involve everyone, old and young alike, to enter our competition to come up with a name for their new leisure centre.

"We're looking for something inventive and original, which reflects the new aspirations of the district as we move forward into the next phase of leisure provision with this fantastic state-of-the-art building. It could be a name that reflects the history of the town, something special or unique about the district or something more modern and forward looking."

The previous Abbey Leisure Centre was almost completely destroyed by a fire in February 2012, and work on the new centre - which will cost upwards of £6 million, with about £2 million funding from Sport England - started earlier this year.

The new centre will include a health and fitness centre with up to 100 pieces of equipment, a class and exercise studio, a synthetic sports pitch, a sauna and steam room, and two swimming pools - a training pool and a six-lane 25m pool.

All submitted suggestions will be considered by a panel of judges and should be emailed to communications@selby.gov.uk along with your name, address and contact telephone number.

Alternatively, paper entries can also be dropped off at Access Selby in Market Cross. The closing date for entries is April 30.