LAST-MINUTE preparations are under way for the opening of Basingstoke's £10.7million Aquadrome.

Lifeguards, fitness instructors and cleaners are busy training and polishing the state-of-the-art centre in the West Ham Leisure Park, for its first day of action on Monday.

Members will be able to swim in the 25-metre competition pool and the 20-metre teaching pool, use the spa, sauna and jacuzzi, caf bar and children's creche, and participate in classes in the gym and two dance studios, fitted out with £350,000 worth of equipment.

Marketing manager Victoria Smith said: "It's all hands to the pumps to clean everything and get it ready for Monday.

"The Aquadrome has proved extremely popular. A total of 1,180 people have signed up already, which is incredible for a local authority facility."

The centre's most colourful feature - its lagoon leisure pool, complete with three flumes, a whirlpool and a current, as well as a kiddies section and a beach - will not open until next Saturday because its 12 lifeguards are undergoing intensive training specific to the pool.

Meanwhile, swimmers can still use the six-lane competition pool and the teaching pool, which has an adjustable floor that can be lowered to 1.8 metres for lane swimming or raised to 0.2 metres for toddlers swimming lessons.

The 130-station gym has a full range of cardiovascular equipment, including treadmills, steppers, rowers and cross trainers.

The equipment is linked by a computerised programme that tells members what exercises they need to be doing, gives them tips from instructors and reminds them when they last went to the gym.

Senior fitness instructor Collette Fields, 19, said: "Instructors can leave users messages, because we work shifts and are not always on hand, and they can leave us messages as well. The system is a lot easier to use than we thought it would be."

The new facility will be managed by SERCO Local Government Services on behalf of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The Aquadrome will provide more than 120 full-time and part-time job opportunities in the local area.

* See The Basingstoke Extra next Wednesday for first reactions from the public to the new Aquadrome.