More than 80 new jobs will be created when a £6 million health and fitness club opens in Shipley next spring.

Greens' Health and Fitness today unveiled details of the facilities at its new state-of-the-art centre overlooking the River Aire at Baildon.

The news has been welcomed as a major boost for the area by the boss of Shipley's development partnership and councillors.

Work on the shell of the three-storey building on Butterfield Park has been completed, with contractors starting on the internal fit-out.

The new club, on Fred Atkinson Way off Otley Road, is part of a £100 million investment programme. It will be Greens' tenth club in the UK and the costliest yet for the chain which is part of De Vere Hotels and Leisure.

Facilities are set to include a 25-metre heated indoor pool and poolside spas; a steam room, sauna and ice room; a beginners and women only fitness suite; fully equipped fitness areas and studios; a brasserie, bar and hair salon and parking for more than 300 cars.

The new club's general manager Gavin Entwistle said: "We aim to build on the success of our other sites and satisfy a demand for a new holistic approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.''

Councillor John Carroll (Cons, Shipley West), chairman of the Shipley Development Partnership, said: "It is replacing what was effectively a rather derelict and scruffy-looking site on a major route into Shipley.

"They have come up with a marvellous complex that will bring jobs to the area and help get people fitter and healthier.

"It's a hefty investment and shows the confidence there is among companies like this in the Shipley area.''

Councillor John Cole (Lib Dem, Baildon) said: "It's to be welcomed for the new jobs it's bringing to the area and because it'll encourage people to get and stay fit.''

A spokesman for Greens said the club would be aiming to recruit staff locally, and would seek members from throughout the Bradford, Wharfe Valley, Keighley, Skipton and Horsforth areas.

He said up to 4,000 members could be served by the club and, although its scheduled opening in April is still several months off, around 400 inquiries about membership have already been received.