A new centre has been opened in a Norfolk town aiming to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and improve their fitness.

The Wymondham Martial Arts and Wellbeing Centre, in Philip Ford Way, Silfield offers everything from martial arts lessons to Reiki sessions and even pole dancing classes to try and cater for a wide range of interests.

Wymondham mayor Neil Ward officially opened the centre on Sunday, which was the brainchild of trustees Chris and Karen Claydon and Angela Harrop.

Mr Claydon, a coach at Wymondham Judo Club, said the club needed to find new premises because its previous home at Ketts Park was not big enough to accommodate the 100 members and the vacant unit in Philip Ford Way, which used to house Unique Building Supplies, was ideal.

However, in order to afford the new building, the club advertised for other clubs and societies to take the floor space, while also raising �45,000 through fundraising activities of its own.

Since then, a number of groups have come forward to use the facility, including a Boxercise group, teaching boxing skills, Spirit Essence, offering crystal healing, a jujitsu martial arts group and even a sword skills class.

The centre also offers rehabilitation therapy for NHS patients who have suffered injuries through yoga and pilates classes.

Pole Fit teacher Nicola Brooks, who comes from Wymondham, is a former professional dancer who used to teach pole dancing at Diss.

She added her classes were for women of all shapes and sizes with the emphasis on fun, but also raising self-confidence by encouraging participants to dress elegantly and feel sexy.

Mr Claydon said his judo membership had increased to 200 since moving to the new building, while 500 people were using the centre between Monday and Saturday from 9am to 10pm.

He added: 'We are in an area that has the largest proportion of social housing in south Norfolk and is a designated area of social deprivation so people can come here and do things that they may not have been able to do before at an affordable price.'

He said there are no annual membership subscriptions, just the cost of the classes.

dominic.bareham2@archant.co.uk