INVERCLYDE Leisure has posted a healthy set of accounts with visitor numbers up by a fifth leading to income of £6m and a £60k cash surplus.

Usage across the charitable trust's sites - including gyms, pools and outdoor pitches - rose by 20 per cent to 1.54 million visits in the year to March 2018.

It helped the company generate income of £6.7 million - an annual increase of three per cent - and posted a surplus of £60k, almost £50k more than in the previous 12 months.

Bosses credit the success of the Ravenscraig Activity Centre, growth in activities at the Waterfront Leisure Complex and the opening of Costa Coffee outlets at both sites as some of the contributing factors towards the positive financial results.

Kieron Vango, the leisure trust's chief executive, said: "It has been another fantastic year at IL with many new initiatives and developments driving the company forward. "What drives this is our excellent employees, a supportive board and good working relations with stakeholders.

"We achieved a lot in the year thanks to the dedication and commitment of our employees, the board and the continued support of Inverclyde Council.

"We also set good foundations to enable the company to grow in future years through our focus on continuous improvement."

Inverclyde Leisure manages 10 leisure facilities, three town halls, Ravenscraig Stadium, 17 grass pitches, six 3G surfaces and 13 community facilities and halls.