As expected, the Vikingar! gym numbers have reaped the benefits of Inverclyde Sports Centre's closure with hundreds of new members on board.

This was revealed during a recent community council meeting in Fairlie.

Resident Iain Hunter asked MSP Kenneth Gibson if he knew what the status was in terms of the new Inverclyde gym opening. The closure of the gym facility was heavily criticised by users at a heated meeting last August.

Mr Gibson said that the Inverclyde gym was expected to re-open in April 2017.

Councillor Tom Marshall, who is on the North Ayrshire Leisure Trust, said that the Vikingar! had benefitted from Inverclyde Sports Centre's closure, and stated: "The Vikingar numbers went up hugely, seemingly in their hundreds."

Mr Hunter said a lot of people are interested in when the Inverclyde gym would be re-opening, and added that leisure facilities in Cumbrae had been given a boost during the Inverclyde closure as various equipment and training courses have been transferred to the watersports centre.

Councillor Alan Hill believed that the community numbers using the gym facilities at Inverclyde would return, and said the boost to island facilities with additional gym classes was beneficial to Millport.

At present, there is an extended closure of the gymnastics facility and main sports hall during the £12m construction of the new parasports centre at Inverclyde.

To complement the building of the new residential and indoor sports facilities, the gymnastics and main sports hall are also being upgraded.

The date for completion of these works is scheduled for Friday 21 October, with access for customers expected on Monday 24 October.

The re-development of the sportscotland centre means it will become the UK’s first fully-inclusive residential facility and provide more opportunities for hosting national and international sporting events, particularly in para-sport.