A free to use open-air gym has been officially opened in King George’s Playing Fields, Croydon.

The brand-new, £40,000 public gym in Sydenham Road offers a range of purpose-built, easy-to-use equipment suitable for all ages.

It is the result of a partnership between Croydon Council and The Matt Palmer Trust (MPT), who jointly raised £370,000 to build a series of active outdoor spaces to help in the fight against mental health issues.

Jessica Bulman, from MPT, explained: “We believe that exercise and sport can play a key role in improving people’s mental health

“It’s estimated that being active for just five minutes every day can help improve a person’s mood and self-esteem, as well as their physical fitness.

“That’s why we are delighted to join forces with the council in this initiative to roll out these open-air, public gyms across the area.”

MPT was formed in 2014, set up by friends in memory of Matt Palmer after he lost his battle against depression and anxiety.

The charity is a non-profit organisation and works to raise awareness of depression and to support the mental well-being of people of all ages in the UK and Ireland.

The King George’s Field gym was officially opened by Croydon Mayor Bernadette Khan and is the fourth of five planned sites across the borough.

Other gyms have been opened in Grangewood Park, Purley Way and New Addington, with the fifth planned for the Norbury area.

For more information visit: www.mattpalmertrust.org.uk