Up to 50 jobs are to be created with the opening of a new £4m health club in Banbury.

Work has started on the site at Bodicote Park which will see the conversion and extension of the Banbury Rugby Club pavilion and is expected to be completed by May next year.

The site operated by Bannatyne Fitness will include a swimming pool, gym, aerobics studio and saunas.

It has been bought by Duncan Bannatyne from developer Russell Harrison for a six-figure sum.

Mr Harrison bought Bodicote Park when the site was sold off by the Charity Commission amid accusations of mismanagement by the park's trustees.

He said: "There will be about 50 people employed in running the facility and they will be recruited locally.

"The management team will be taken on in the early part of next year and the other staff will come in after that."

Mr Harrison added that temporary accommodation was being arranged for the rugby club while the work was carried out.

He added: "We have a fantastic opportunity to create a centre for sporting excellence in Banbury."