A ROYAL visit and new state-of-the-art facilities combined for a record breaking year for Basildon’s sporting centres.

A total of 1.4million visited Basildon Sporting Village between April 2018 and March 2019.

Among them were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

In total the sporting village, Wickford Swim and Fitness Centre and Eversley Leisure Centre were 45.4 per cent “over target visits”.

Basildon councillor David Harrison, speaking after the figures were revealed on Wednesday, said: “I know people in the past have had problems with the sporting village, and its concept, but it is a good news story.

“The per cent over target visits are between 43 and 45 per cent, there is a sliding income from the council of £30,000 and the £9,800 on the 3G football pitches, and once again the athletics track will be replaced.

“This is an excellent story, and it is down to all the administrators that have worked on this.”

Councillor Kevin Blake added: “It has been a massive success. I welcome this work and it shows the hard work that has gone into this and the hard work that continues.”

Basildon Sporting Village recorded a whopping 1,358,305 visits during 2018/19 - taking its total visitor count to 11.8million since it opened on April 30, 2011.

Highlights included hosting the royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, being named the winner of the UK Active award for disability and inclusion, and winning the Swim England Innovation award.

The Sporting Village recorded a 2.2 per cent increase in visitors, despite “poor winter weather” which saw attendance at swimming pool lessons drop.

While the Eversley Leisure Centre saw a surge, attributed to the opening of a new 3G football pitch and the new South Essex Gym Club facility which has been so successful it has achieved national attention and become the base for many of the British Olympic team.