VILLAGERS in Tillingham are now able to enjoy a free outdoor exercise centre as the installation of equipment is completed.

Orders were placed for the outdoor gym equipment in Tillingham after Tillingham Parish Council received £8,000 in grant money from both Essex County Council and the Bradwell Windfarm Community Fund.

It is hoped the gym will be installed as soon as the end of March, allowing villagers to enjoy the benefits of the gym without having to pay.

The gym is located just off Vicarage Lane on land owned by the Parish Council.

It includes a swingalong, a double leg press, a chest press and pull down exerciser, a cycle bike and a cross trainer.

Councillor, Kevin Knight believes it is great news for the village.

He said: “We carried out a consultation about the idea a few months back and everyone we spoke to seemed really positive about the idea.

“I think it is a great idea. We are all being told we need to do more exercise and we all want to do more. This is a great way to held that as everybody will be able to use the equipment without having to pay for it.”

Parish council chairman, Robert Harvey added: “Thanks to the grants we have received it means it won’t cost the village a lot, we will just be making up the shortfall of a few hundred pounds.

“If there are grants available we have always been of the mind set of applying for them so that we can improve our village. That is down to the fantastic work of our clerk Sheila Welham. She has put in all the work to make this possible.”