RAF Lyneham personnel and their families will be able to get fit quick at a new gym built by a Swindon firm.

The station's new £700,000 gymnasium and fitness suite was officially opened this week by Air Marshall Clive Loader OBE.

Also present at the opening ceremony on June 24 were representatives from main contractors, EW Beard, and from Interserve, the service company that manages the Lyneham base.

The work was carried out by Swindon-based EW Beard, which was founded in 1892 and still owned by the same family.

It won the contract in a competitive bid against five other firms. Despite losing a week to poor weather, the firm was able to finish the five-month project ahead of schedule.