There is delight for sports fanatics in Hatfield following the refurbishment of the floor at Birchwood Leisure Centre.

The heavily-used sports hall floor at the leisure centre in Longmead underwent a full refurbishment, made possible by developer contributions from projects in Hatfield Town Centre and at the site of the former VW Van Centre in Comet Way.

The hall is used by a number of clubs: Hatfield Magics basketball club called the Birchwood home for more than 20 years, as well as Welwyn Garden City Hellcats basketball club and Saracens Wheel Chair Rugby Club.

Birchwood is also used for plenty of drop-in sessions for a host of sports, such as badminton, pickle ball, martial arts, fitness classes, five-a-side and walking football, while the gym is open seven days a week between 9am and 8pm on weekdays, and until 5pm at the weekend.

As well as being a sports facility, the leisure centre also provides rooms for clubs or business to host meetings.

“Given the diverse community use of the sports hall at Birchwood, using this money to keep the facility fit for purpose was seen as a real community win,” said a spokesman for Hatfield Town Council.