A LEISURE centre's health and lifestyle monitoring scheme has being hailed a success and organisers hope it will go from strength to strength.

The scheme at Abbey Leisure in Durham, brought together by University Hospital North Durham and Durham City Council, has had ten referrals from the diabetes department of the hospital, taking part in a ten-week long pilot programme

Lifestyle instructor Kim Varley said: "All of the people who have taken part in the scheme have been very pleased with the session.

"All the participants had a one-to-one screening with a diabetes nurse and then the programme monitored and gave advice, with relaxation and exercise routines among other things."

Some of the sessions included education on dieting, managing diabetes and healthy lifestyle.

Abbey Leisure manager Brian Byrne said: "The feedback from everyone has been fantastic and everyone wants to continue with regular exercise sessions.

"So much so that Abbey Leisure is hoping to provide a rollover programme for referrals who would like to continue with their regular exercise sessions."

Durham City Mayor, Councillor Mary Hawgood, is visiting the centre at 2pm on Thursday to chat to some of the people on the scheme and to find out how the information and advice has changed their lives.