Harrow Leisure Centre celebrated its 40 anniversary by hosting 40 free fitness activities at the weekend, including some inspired by the decade in which it first opened.

The centre opened in Christchurch Avenue on May 3, 1975 – when West Ham beat Fulham 2-0 in the FA Cup and Bye Bye Baby, by Bay City Rollers, was in the charts.

To mark the anniversary on Sunday (May 3), the centre invited members of the public to take part in everything from a 1970s-style roller disco to group exercise challenges.

The day also marked the official opening of a new £200,000 Strength Gym.

A raffle was held on the day, with 40 prizes up for grabs and all donations going to the Anthony Nolan Trust, a blood cancer charity that works with stem cell and bone marrow donors.

John Sewell, general manager of Everyone Active, which operates the centre, said: “Harrow Leisure Centre has been an integral part of the community for the past 40 years.

“We are very proud of the success of the centre. This shows that the local community see the value of leisure, fitness and activity.”

The leisure centre attracts thousands of residents from across the borough each year and has won numerous awards.

Over the past two years, it has benefited from a £1.7m investment from Everyone Active, which has paid for a gym extension, a new flexible programme gym and a new sauna and steam room, among other things.

Marianne Locke, Harrow Council's division director for community and culture, said: “For 40 years Harrow Leisure Centre has been serving the community of Harrow.

“We are proud that some of the clubs and individuals who first started coming to the centre in 1975 are still attending today alongside many new members, increasing every month.

“This is a remarkable achievement that we should celebrate, but it is also a time to look forward and see how we can meet the needs of residents for the next 40 years.”