Indoor surfing in Gateshead is one wave closer to reality today after the topping out ceremony of a new multi-million pound leisure centre.

Heworth Leisure Centre on High Lanes in Heworth is set to open its doors this summer with the first indoor boarding facility in the North East. The innovative 'FlowRider' system allows water sports fans to ride the waves all year round, no matter what the weather outside, and will be one of only a handful across the UK.

To celebrate the latest milestone in the project - completion of the striking curved roof - a traditional topping out ceremony was held, featuring Councillor Linda Green and future centre-user, student Darren Crane from Heworth Grange School.

As part of the ceremony, Councillor Green and Darren enjoyed their first look at the finished rolling roof, which strongly resembles one of the waves soon to be seen inside the centre.

With the exterior now complete, work begins on the internal fit-out of the building. As well as the first indoor boarding facility in the North East, the centre will feature a 25 metre four lane swimming pool, a separate learner pool, a toddler pool and a gym. A multi purpose room and extra changing facilities for outdoor sports will also be included. Once open the new centre will replace nearby 1963-built Felling Pool.

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Gateshead Council cabinet member for culture Cllr Linda Green said: "Gateshead is ‘European City of Sport for 2010’, so the topping out of this exciting new leisure centre couldn’t be more timely. In Gateshead we are committed to providing excellent leisure and sports facilities, along with hundreds of active opportunities for Gateshead residents, so that they can be inspired to lead active and healthy lives.

"We are very proud to be the first to bring activities such as indoor surfing to the region and I’m sure thousands of local people will enjoy the facilities here for many years to come."

Future centre-user, 16-year-old Darren Crane, is one of those looking forward to the centre’s opening. He said: "Indoor surfing looks like great fun and I can’t wait to try it when this building opens in the summer. I love sport and keeping healthy in general so it will be great to have all these facilities right on my doorstep."

Heworth Leisure Centre is the second of two brand new leisure centres set to open as part of Gateshead Council’s £29m Building an Active Future programme. Work on the first in Blaydon is also rapidly progressing with completion expected in the autumn.

Gateshead Leisure Centre, Birtley and Dunston pools are also being heavily redeveloped as part of the programme and Gateshead Leisure Centre will be the first of these to open its doors next month.

(GK)