Barrow Borough Council is aiming to install two new wellbeing hubs by August this year.

The council received funding for the hubs before Christmas through the accelerated funding scheme of the Government’s Towns Fund, which has allocated funds to the council.

Barrow Park and Vickerstown Park will be the first parks to unveil the new hubs, with another park in Dalton to open one next year.

Councillor Iain Mooney said: “It’s a plan that has been in place for quite a while now, but we have been waiting for funding which became available through the Towns Fund.

“A priority for the council is tackling health inequality across the borough.

"It’s about making sure exercise is accessible to people in the borough.

“There is a high deprivation rate and not everyone can afford to go to the gym.

"One of the main elements is interactive exercise equipment, which will allow people to download apps and recommend exercises to do.

“It is also about making parks more accessible for people with disabilities.

"There will be reflection areas, wildlife education areas and places with better access.

“We want to get it going straight away and encourage people to get out more, especially during these times.”