The Dragon Leisure Centre, situated on the outskirts of Bodmin, offers a wealth of activities and facilities throughout the year - but during the approaching half term will be providing an extra special programme for youngsters.

The centre has organised a Fun Camp for October 25 - 31, while still open for a host of other events for all other sections of the population. The Fun Camp enables adults to leave their children with the centre's fully qualified staff for the day. From 8.30am through to 5pm they will be supervised and entertained, taking part in differing activities such as swimming, trampolining, archery, tennis, aerobics, football, arts and crafts and much more. Lunch and drinks will also be provided by Dragon Leisure.

The centre boasts the only indoor tennis courts in Cornwall as well as a 25 metre swimming pool plus teaching pool and flume, two squash courts, Shapes fitness suite, Images health suite, a creche, a floodlit all weather surface, a grass football pitch, a conference room, a cafeteria and a bar equipped with Sky television.

n Since the Cornwall Indoor Tennis and Sports Centre opened at the centre in l989 a vast amount of tennis development has taken place both there, and in the surrounding area. Geoff Samuels, tennis development officer who has been instrumental in setting up the tennis development initiatives, said: 'Since opening 40 schools have benefited from funding through the Cliff Richard tennis development trust and Midland Bank National Schools coaching programme. Up to £10,000 has been spent offering local schools free curriculum tennis coaching, and targeted squad training for talented local youngsters.'

Many adults have been participating in the coaching programme since the centre opened in l989 and are still going strong. The junior courses are well attended, and offer coaching after 4pm on a daily basis for all standards. There is everything from pay-on-the-day to courses for all standards.

Social play

Courts can also be reserved for social play during the day and evenings. Over 65 juniors are currently undergoing training in a structured environment committed to helping all develop to the best of their potential through a dedicated squad training system. Regular school visits are organised throughout the year, and anyone showing good co-ordination, movement and balance is offered introduction places into the squad training programme.

n Football is also among the welter of sports high on the leisure centre's agenda. There are two county affiliated youth football teams playing out of the centre at under ll and under 13 age groups. Both are well established and successful sides, with the under l3s runners-up in their league last year, and each team making a good start to the season.

There are training sessions for boys and girls aged between six and l5 on Friday nights from 6-7pm on the all weather pitch, these open to all and led by fully qualified FA coaches. The centre is looking to launch new teams in all age groups so all soccer hopefuls wanting to attend are welcome, with the sessions only £1.

Also now training at the centre are the newly formed Bodmin Dragons Ladies football team who play in the Cornwall Ladies league and have made a spirited start to the season. They train on a Wednesday evening between 8-9pm and new players are always welcome, the sessions also being taken by a qualified F A coach. As the sessions cater for all abilities they are fine for those who have not played before, as well as for the experienced.

n The impressive swimming pool at Dragon Leisure has proved a great attraction. With over 350 children learning to swim there the centre has the largest learn-to-swim programme in the area. All classes are taught by fully qualified ASA swimming instructors, and vary from beginner lessons for pre-school children to adult lessons.

Confidence

Building up water confidence is the key to children enjoying and learning to swim, which is why lessons are offered for those as young as four. The children can then progress right through the ASA's swimming awards programme, finishing up taking personal survival awards and even joining the Bodmin swimming club which is one of the best clubs in the South West. Youngsters can learn to swim from any age, and can always improve their technique and stamina, which is why the centre accepts children of all abilities on to its programme. The sum of £14.60 for a seven week course offers great value for money.

During the coming half term the centre is providing five day intensive courses for children which are to be held from Monday to Friday and will cost £10.50. The beginners sessions are from 9-9.30am and 9.30-10am, with the improvers from 9.30-10am and the advanced, who must be able to swim at least 50 metres, from 9.30-10am.

n For those wishing to keep at the peak of their fitness Shapes Fitness Studio provides the latest in hi-tech fitness equipment with video cycles, stairclimbers, rowers, running machines and Nautilus fixed weights machines. Sessions cost £2.70 for 45 minutes, although a £5.50 induction must be taken before customers receive a user card. These must be booked in advance through reception. Shapes is open 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday, with junior work-outs for 12-15 year olds and a GP referral scheme also offered.

n The Images Health Suite is equally impressive, comprising a sauna, steam room and spa heated to 37-39 Celsius. The room allows users to relax and recharge their batteries in quiet surroundings, a one hour session costing £3.50. Images is open 8am to l0pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

n For those who enjoy feeling fit there are also aerobics sessions on Tuesdays (l0-llam Step and Tone and 7-8pm Step), Wednesdays (9-10am Step) and Thursdays (10-11am Aerobics and 7-8pm Aerobi-step).

n Youngsters aged between five and 16 years can also enjoy gymnastics in fun and enjoyable structured lessons, the courses running throughout term time on Fridays with Beginners from 3.45-4.45pm and Improvers from 4.45-5.45pm.

n Trampolining is another centre option for both children and adults. These courses also run through term time and are organised so that customers work to their own abilities and pace. These take place on Tuesdays with the children's session between 7.15-8pm and the adults (over 16) between 8-8.45pm. On October 25 there will be a two hour trampoline session for children of all abilities between the ages of seven and l3, this to cost £3 and to run from 6-8pm. An adults session will run from 8-9.30pm for £3.50.

n Archery can be enjoyed on Thursday evenings (seven to 14 year olds from 5-6pm and adults 6.30-7.30pm) while the two glass backed squash courts are available for bookings between 7am - 9.30pm on all days. They cost £2.60 off-peak, which is before 5.15pm Monday to Friday, and £4.20 after 5.15pm and all day at weekends. Leagues are run within the centre.

Every weekday morning between 10am and midday the centre offers a large amount of activities, all for £2.50. Those taking up the offer can workout in the gym or relax in Images health suite, or play tennis and meet new friends. Activity morning leaflets are available for more information.

Dragon Leisure also provides a variety of parties from swimming to sports parties, including a bouncy castle - an ideal way to celebrate as a mouth-watering tea can be held with all the tidying up left to the staff.

Options vouchers, which provide discounts on various activities, can also be obtained to make the ideal facilities on offer at Dragon Leisure even more enticing.