THE MASSIVE project to create a new Healthy Lifestyle Fitness Centre at Cinderford's Heywood School will be a major boost to the Forest of Dean.

If all goes to plan and a Lottery submission is successful, the centre could be open as early as next Christmas.

The present facilities at the Forest Fitness Centre are huge but already over subscribed as people of all ages and from all walks of life take advantage of the superb facilities to keep in trim.

With this is mind the Fitness Centre trustees took the bold step to move forward and plan the biggest lifestyle centre of its kind in the West of England. It will also become the first national centre of excellence for athletes with learning and mental disabilities.

"We have medical referrals from all parts of the county and the centre is now widely recognised as a leader in the field of rehabilition for people recovering from a variety of illnesses and accidents," explained coach Alan Elliott.

The new centre will service the needs of clients from a wide area.

Alan explains: "Athletes with physical or mental disabilities from all areas of the UK will be welcome to attend the centre for squad training sessions and competitions and their coaches will also be able to attend for training courses.

"Other sessions are run for people with visual impairment and three times a week we hold specific rehabilitation training sessions for people who have medical conditions or may need exercise after illness or operations as well as exercise sessions for the over 50s age group."

A building fund has been established for a number of years and £70,000 has already been earmarked to kick-start the project. But the biggest fund-raising event has been a huge draw to win an E-Type Jaguar.

The classic car – valued at £18,000 – is top prize in a competition which features a spectacular list of other goodies including a holiday for four in America, a computer package worth £1,500 and loads of coloured television and video recorders as well as cash prizes.

The winners will be those who can estimate the number of miles to the nearest one tenth of a mile the Jaguar has travelled since its production in 1968 and October 1, 2001. The car is in excellent condition and – a little clue – it has had little use in the past 11 years.

The competition will give a huge boost to the fund and the winners will be announced at a New Year's Eve Ball to be held at Forest Hills Golf Club.

Internet details about the competition and the Fitness Centrecan be found on http://www.thatusefulplace.com">www.thatusefulplace.com