Darlington'S leisure centre is having a double celebration as it leads up to its 20th anniversary next week, with news of a £25,000 refurbishment.

The Darlington Borough Council-owned Dolphin Centre was also highly praised in an Audit Commission report earlier this month.

The borough council's leisure services department was awarded two out of a possible three stars.

As the Dolphin Centre prepares to mark its 20th anniversary, work will start to complete a £100,000 refurbishment of the centre's Pulse II fitness suite that began last year.

The council has announced it will also be spending £25,000 on fitness equipment.

The new items will include cross-trainers, new chest, tricep and multi-hip machines and new abdominal and lower back machines.

Councillor Dorothy Long, the borough council's cabinet member for leisure services, said: "It is a lovely way to celebrate the Dolphin Centre's 20th birthday.

"The Audit Commission report was very encouraging, particularly as the inspectors noted that both our cultural and our sports and leisure strategies, which will be implemented by the end of the year, will link into the Tees Valley cultural strategy for improvement and future planning."

The Audit Commission inspection team gave the two-star rating because of a broad range of indoor and outdoor sports and children's play opportunities.

Inspectors also said that opening times at the leisure centre were meeting customers' needs.

Pat Thynne, commissioning inspector, said that weaknesses in the services, which had been highlighted in the Audit Commission report, were already being addressed by the council.

Strengths outlined included the Dolphin Centre, Stressholme Golf Course and the outdoor facilities at the Eastbourne Sports Complex in the town.

The service was also praised for initiatives which reduce crime and disorder, improve health and keep young people occupied.

More than 28 million customers have visited the Dolphin Centre since the world's first sub-four minute miler, Sir Roger Bannister, performed the opening ceremony in 1982. The centre was criticised for opening a year late because of technical problems and a steel strike. The cost was estimated at £5m, but inflation and interest payments forced the total up to £23m