A FORMER Olympic double gold medalist has hailed Blackburn’s new leisure centre as ‘world class.’

Swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who won two golds at the Beijing Olympics, was the guest of honour at the official opening of the new £13.5 million centre.

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And she praised Blackburn College and Blackburn With Darwen Council for joining forces to deliver what she described as ‘a truly amazing facility’ that is unique in the region.

The new centre has a six-lane 25 metre swimming pool, complete with two water slides and a children’s water fun zone.

It is also home to a dance and aerobics room, a spinning studio, a gym, two sports halls and a sports science lab.