Works are progressing on a major refurbishment of Carlisle's flagship sports and events centre.

Contractors are part-way through a significant refurbishment of the Sands Centre in Carlisle, which remains underway with extra measures in place to keep the site Covid-secure.

The redevelopment of the Sands Centre, a Carlisle City Council building, is a major project for the local authority, set to cost more than £27m in total.

City council members of business and transformation scrutiny panel are set to receive an update on the progress of the project on Thursday.

A report prepared in advance by city council deputy chief executive Darren Crossley outlines the main milestones so far hit in the 98-week refurbishment project.

This includes the recent completion of demolition works to part of the Sands Centre building, formerly housing leisure facilities - though not the part of the building housing its main events space, which will not be demolished under the refurbishment plans.

Once the Sands Centre redevelopment project is fully complete, it will have added a new swimming pool, 120-station fitness suite, two dance studios, a spinning studio, new changing places and a new NHS physiotherapy suite to the events and leisure complex.

In the meantime, temporary facilities have been put in place while the refurbishment project is underway.

These include a "fully accessible temporary events centre reception, bar and catering facility" at the Sands Centre site, and a temporary leisure facility and home for the NHS musculoskeletal treatment service at the former Newman School site on Lismore Place nearby.

While the temporary leisure facility is closed due to the current Covid-19 lockdown, the musculoskeletal treatment service facility is fully operational.

Mr Crossley notes in his report to panel members that this treatment service facility has been "well received" by users.

The redevelopment project was agreed to by Carlisle City Council in June 2019, with a cost set at £25.5m.

In September last year, council members agreed to additional funding for the redevelopment project to cover the impact of Covid-19 on the works. The re-profiled budget for the project was raised by £1.8m, to £27.3m.