LEISURE centres across Southampton are offering free and discounted sports sessions this weekend in a bid to persuade people to become more active.

Three facilities have teamed up with the Titchfield-based Breast Cancer Haven, which is striving to promote the benefits of leading a healthier lifestyle.

The charity's fundraising manager, Sally Hillyear, said: "We strongly believe in the importance of exercise in helping to maintain and improve health during and after cancer treatment.

"As well as helping to avoid or reduce some of the side effects of cancer treatment, including fatigue, weight gain, osteoporosis and lymphoedema, exercise can also prevent or reduce the loss of muscle tone and general fitness that can happen during and after treatment.

"Exercise has a host of benefits for the general public, as well as those with a diagnosis of cancer.

"Exercise can improve your long-term health, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as possibly reducing the risk of cancer coming back.

"It can also improve your mental wellbeing by reducing anxiety, stress and depression."

"There are 3,000 new cases of breast cancer locally each year and there may well be people who are unaware of the free services we provide.

"We will be on hand to help people across the weekend who may have been affected by the disease.

"Any money donated and raised will enable to continue to provide treatments to help with the physical and emotional side affects of breast cancer.”

The facilities taking part are The Quays Swimming and Diving Centre, Bitterne Leisure Centre and Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, which will all be open between 9am and 6pm.

The event - Discovery Weekend - aims to encourage locals to visit the venues, have fun and try something new.

Organisers are hoping everyone who takes part will go home determined to improve their lives in 2020 by leading a more healthy and active lifestyle.

People visiting Bitterne Leisure Centre on Sunday can try the Les Mills fitness classes for free, but anyone wearing pink and making a donation will be entered into a golden ticket-type draw with the chance of winning a premier membership pass for a year.

What's on offer:

FREE:

Swimming lesson taster sessions at The Quays and Bitterne Leisure Centre

Adult lane swimming at The Quays and Bitterne Leisure Centre.

Gym sessions at The Quays, Bitterne and Chamberlayne leisure centres.

Badminton and table tennis sessions at Bitterne and Chamberlayne leisure centre.

Demonstrations of hydro massage and halotherapy at The Quays.

Les Mills fitness sessions at Chamberlayne Leisure Centre on Saturday and Bitterne Leisure Centre on Sunday (9am to 12pm both days).

DISCOUNTED:

A Frozen-themed pool disco at The Quays with Olaf, Christof and Sven, plus a snow machine and Disney theme music (Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 4pm).

A 14-piece pool inflatable and aqua warrior session at The Quays (Saturday, 2.30pm to 3.45pm).

Mikey & Friends Disney Family Swimming Sessions at Bitterne Leisure Centre (Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 1.45pm).

Family pool inflatable session at Bitterne Leisure Centre (Saturday and Sunday, from 2pm to 3pm.