STAFF at a sports complex are celebrating after winning a national award.

Coxhoe Leisure Centre, one of five centres run by Durham City Council, scooped the silver award in Club of the Year 2001, a national competition for public sector-run facilities.

The competition, run by Leisure Finance, included a visit by a mystery customer who checked for things such as the welcome staff gave and the quality of the centre. The competition organisers tested the efficiency of the reception staff with a telephone call test.

The management also had to give a detailed presentation to delegates from all areas of the leisure industry, outlining the centre's objectives and provision for staff training and development.

Centre staff Kay Smith and Lesley Charman collected the award at a presentation in London - and a second award for the centre's work with Virtual Spinnergy, a virtual reality exercise bike.

Kay said: "This is a tremendous way to celebrate a year of great changes at Coxhoe.

"We have a fantastic team who make all the difference to everyone who uses Coxhoe," she added.

"We're all absolutely delighted to have won silver in such a popular and well-regarded national competition at our first attempt. It was a great surprise to get a double award with the prize for Virtual Spinnergy."