A NEW gym designed for young people has been officially opened by WHT competition winner Madeline MacDonald. The 14-year-old Stanborough School pupil won a Young Timers competition in January to design a logo for the junior gym at Hatfield Leisure Centre

A NEW gym designed for young people has been officially opened by WHT competition winner Madeline MacDonald.

The 14-year-old Stanborough School pupil won a Young Timers competition in January to design a logo for the junior gym at Hatfield Leisure Centre on Travellers Lane.

Her design, Gym 4 Juniors, was selected for its "simplicity, and fitting in with the rest of Hatfield Leisure Centre's colours and schemes".

Funded by Welwyn Hatfield Council and managed by Finesse Leisure, the gym is the result of a consultation between Finesse and students at Sir Frederic Osborn School, who gave their ideas on what equipment they would like in a gym designed specifically for them.

The facility for eight to 14-year-olds includes Nintendo Wii and Wii Fits, rowing machines, treadmills with personal televisions, a "Wushu" martial arts system and "Vew-du" balance boards.

Melanie Hoskin, from Finesse Leisure, said: "It's a great facility for eight to 14-year-olds who are looking for a different way of exercising.

"And this is a way of exercising that's fun at the same time.

"Some of the kids were running on the treadmill for 45 minutes without realising it because they were watching The Simpsons!