A TENNIS and health club specialist has become the first operator selected for a regional sports complex to be built alongside the Trafford Centre.

The £250 million retail and leisure project at Dumplington, near junction 3 of the M63, is due to be completed in 1998.

An adjoining 150 acres is also available for sports and related developments.

Hampshire-based Racquets and Healthtrack Group is to build its scheme on a 10-acre plot fronting the Manchester Ship Canal.

There will be 12 indoor tennis courts, seven outdoor courts, eight dual-use badminton courts, three squash courts, a 12,000 sq ft gymnasium, a 25 metre training pool, plus a 15 metre leisure pool, health and beauty clinic, aerobics studios, sun bed suite, steam room and sauna, jacuzzi, creche restaurant and bar.

Chief Executive Graham Thomas said: "We have special plans for this club and are already looking at the possibility of constructing two show courts with space for up to 5,000 spectators, designed for national and international competitions with full facilities for TV coverage."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.