THE £38million Basildon Sporting Village is in the running to be named the best leisure centre in the UK.

The facility, in Basildon’s Gloucester Park, in Cranes Farm Road, has reached the final stages of the UK Active’s Flame Leisure Centre of the Year Award.

The contest saw entries from more than 4,000 leisure centres and now the Sporting Village is through to the final stages of the contest, which will see just 15 leisure centres being judged.

Greg Barsby, general manager at Basildon Sporting Village for management company Everyone Active, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for the centre to have got through to the finals and demonstrates we consistently provide a very high quality of service to our customers.

“Last year another Everyone Active-run leisure centre walked away with the top prize and we are really keen to emulate its success.”

Kevin Blake, Basildon councillor for leisure and the arts, added: “The Sporting Village is a great regional facility, so this recognition is well deserved.

“In the two years since its opening, this great facility has welcomed more than two million visitors and seen more and more people get active and healthy.”