A man has charged with burglary after a break-in at Strood Sports Centre.

Paul Hickey, 39, was charged with burglary and has been remanded in custody.

Hickey of Gorse Lane, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, is due to appear before magistrates today (Friday).

The leisure centre was broken into during the early hours of Thursday morning and fitness fans who turned up for a workout that morning were turned away as the gym was temporarily closed.

A man and two teenagers, were arrested initially at about 2am that morning after officers were called to the centre, in Watling Street, Strood at 1.54am.

The 16 and 17-year-old boys, both from Medway, have been bailed until November 23.

One man who didn’t want to be named said: “I usually play early morning badminton sessions, but couldn’t this morning as we were told there had been a break in.”

It is understood staff had to clean up shattered glass at the site after some vending machines suffered some damaged which resulted in about a 20 minute delay the centre opening.