Faversham’s first outdoor gym is up and running.

After months of fundraising, members of the Brents Community Association are celebrating the launch of a completely free, al fresco exercise complex at Reedland Crescent park in the North Preston estate.

The equipment, created by the Great Outdoor Gym Company based at Brogdale, includes parallel bars, a cross trainer, a bench for tricep dips and press-ups, a bike, crosstrainer, bench-press, a chest press and double pull-up bars.

It was partly funded by the Tesco 5p plastic bag charge.

The community association battled it out with two other charities for a £12,000 grant, with the other two receiving £10,000 and £8,000 for their projects.

All the money had been raised from customers paying for carrier bags, and anyone visiting the supermarket was able to vote for their chosen charity.

Treasurer of the association Brenda Chester said: “Gym membership is too expensive for a lot of people and the outdoor gym will provide modern, safe equipment, and a chance for all adults to socialise and keep fit at the same time.

“The project team at the Brents Community Association has been working hard since last autumn, fundraising by grant applications and events, and would like to acknowledge the financial support given by Amicus Horizon, Brents Charity, Brents Tavern, Faversham Creek Trust, Faversham Town Council, Queenborough Fishery Trust, Swale Borough Council Sports Development Fund, county councillor Tom Gates and the six borough councillors who gave grants from their members funds – Cllrs Cosgrove, Simmons, Walker and Wilcox, and our ward councillor Mike Henderson, who has also been part of the project team.”

Cllr Claire Belsom said: “The gym will be officially launched on Wednesday, July 27, at 6.30pm on the recreation ground.

"All are welcome to attend, where they can find out from the experts how to use the machines.”