SEVERAL Winchester parish councillors were put through their paces last weekend on brand new fitness equipment.

Phase one of the Littleton and Harestock ‘trim trail’ was opened to the public with four pieces of outdoor gym equipment tried out by the councillors.

The equipment was provided through a grant of more than £7,000 from the city council’s open spaces fund and includes a double rower, an air walker, an air skier and an arm and pedal bike, which all focus on cardio-vascular exercise.

Cllr Kim Waters, who organised the project, said: “I’m conscious in the current climate people struggle to join gyms because money is tight so this is a good way of keeping fit, particularly for some of the older members of the community who might not like going to the gym.

“The beauty of this is that we can add to it if we get more funding through the years so we can keep it evolving as money becomes available.”

Plans are in place for phase two of the project – a 750 metre fitness trail around the perimeter of the recreation ground – but depends on funding from the Community Covenant Armed Forces scheme which the council has applied to for a grant.

Cllr Waters added: “We are very keen for both the civilian and forces residents within our parish to be able to utilise this free facility and we hope that phase two will be completed before The Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations and The 2012 London Olympics.”