A LEADING health club operator is set to set to create 40 jobs in Darlington with the opening of a new fitness club next year.

Bannatyne Fitness has begun construction on a brand new health club on the site of the former bus depot on Haughton Raod, Darlington.

This autumn the organisation will begin recruiting 40 local people for a variety of positions at the club.

Posts include fitness instructors, catering staff, sales and membership staff, and cleaners. The new recruits will train at Bannatyne clubs throughout the North-East before taking up their new posts next spring.

"This will be one of our most exciting clubs," said Duncan Bannatyne, chairman of Bannatyne Fitness, and also a resident of Darlington.

"As I will be using it regularly I will be paying close attention to the progress of the development and the quality of the facilities once it is open."

The development will include a 20-metre swimming pool and a fully equipped cardiovascular gymnasium. It is being built at a cost of £3m and will be Bannatyne's seventh club in England.

Darlington Council leader John Williams said: "Starting work on this prestigious project is a great moment for Darlington and for Duncan Bannatyne.

"The new health club is a quality development from a quality business which will result in quality jobs for the town.