The preferred company to run Maldon and Burnham’s council-owned leisure centres has been announced.

Maldon District Council has chosen Places for People Leisure (previously known as DC Leisure) to take over the new contract from October 1.

Work is now underway to finalise the contractual arrangements.

The council will invest just under £2million to refurbish the Dengie Hundred and the Blackwater leisure centres and it will also receive income from the ten year contract.

Places for People Leisure is a not-for-profit organisation and manages more than 111 leisure centres.