FITNESS lovers raced back to the Carnegie Leisure Centre and the Pitreavie Athletics Centre on Monday after 180 days of closure.

The Fife Sports and Leisure Trust received a massive 2,700 bookings in the first seven days of launching its online system.

One of the first through the doors at Carnegie Leisure Centre, gym user Nial Patterson, Dunfermline, was delighted to return.

"It's great to be back to the gym so I can mix up my training," he said.

Husband and wife Andrew and Lorna Lyndsay, Dunfermline, were also pleased to be back. Andrew said: "If anybody has any anxieties about coming back you can put that to the side because everything is in place."

Lorna added: "It’s so spacious and well laid out and great with the extra rooms you can use."

Group fitness participant and Leisure Active member Kim Paterson said: “It feels like Christmas Day to be back! It’s a fantastic set-up and I feel totally safe – the process is so well organised from the moment I stepped through the door.”

Robin Robertson, Dunfermline, added: “It’s been a long time coming – this is my first session back and really looking forward to getting fit again. I missed the instructors, friends and facilities. The trust’s team have done a great job with regards COVID measures.”

The trust's phased re-opening programme will see Dalgety Bay Leisure Centre return to action on September 28 followed by Duloch Leisure Centre on October 12.

As well as introducing its online booking system, the charitable trust is also set to launch a new customer app so that customers can access facilities easily with the new COVID measures in place.

Emma Walker, chief executive of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “It’s hugely rewarding to be able to welcome customers back to trust facilities – it’s been a long wait and we’d like to thank customers for their patience and support throughout the lockdown.

“We have had a fantastic response to our re-opening and have been very encouraged by the numbers of people taking the opportunity to book online so that they can access centres and programmes.

“We remain vigilant with regards customer and staff health and safety and we are confident with the protocols we have in place which are in keeping with government, NHS and industry guidelines. We look forward to rolling out the next phase of our re-opening programme and welcoming even more people back to our facilities.”