Health and leisure centres in the New Forest, including Ringwood are closing due to Covid-19 restrictions.

From tomorrow (Thursday, November 5) New Forest District Council's five health and leisure centres will close.

Councillor Mark Steele, the council's portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: "We had all hoped that we would not need to close our health and leisure centres again, but unfortunately due to these necessary new restrictions, we will be closing our centres from 10pm on Wednesday 4 November to the public. We will continue to provide much needed access to our onsite schools. The majority of our staff will be furloughed in line with the government job retention scheme.

“I would like to thank all the staff as it is only with their tremendous work on making our facilities Covid secure that I can say today with great confidence that as soon as government allows, we will once again re-open our centres. I would also like to thank our customers who have been very patient and understanding through this difficult time."

Customer direct debits will be frozen for the length of the closure and no direct debit payments will be taken in November.