The BIG Games, a showcase of sports, arts and heritage activities, will help mark the official public launch of a new £10.8m leisure complex in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on 7 July.

Rochdale Leisure Centre is located on Entwisle Road in the heart of the town and will include an eight-lane, 25m swimming pool and a 17m learner pool with moveable floor.

The main fitness area will incorporate more than 100 stations, including equipment supplied by Life Fitness, Trixter, Escape and Concept 2, as well as Power Plates.

Life Fitness equipment and Concept 2 rowing machines will also feature in the activity gym area, while the studio will host 31 Star Trac spinning bikes and Escape equipment.

A sauna and steamrooms; dance studios; and a four-court sports hall also form part of the new KKA-designed centre, which is being built by Willmott Dixon.

The new facility has been developed as part of a wider £33.8m capital programme agreed by Rochdale Council in 2007, following the launch of Link4Life, the local cultural trust.

Rochdale Council cabinet member for culture and leisure Jacqueline Beswick said: "There has been a lot of interest as the building has been nearing completion and lots of people have already signed up to join, which is excellent.

"This will be the third multi-million pound sports centre in the borough and, alongside the facilities in Middleton and Heywood it offers a step-change in the quality of leisure here."

Details: www.link4life.org