A RETIREMENT village is hoping to keep its residents fit with the addition of a new purpose-built gym.

The Polly's Field Retirement Village is currently being bult in Bocking and will be made up of 99 apartments for residents over 55.

The site is close to completion and is expected to open in early 2022.

Now the village included a new gym for residents with equipment funded by backers, Northern Gas and Power (NGP).

NGP has a history of working with charities in the area including the Abbeyfield Braintree, Bocking and Felsted Society for six years.

NGP has donated £23,000 for all the gym equipment housed in the brand-new residents’ gym.

NGP’s Head of Corporate Marketing David Bootle, said: “To be able to support our customers to help them support their own clients is something we pride ourselves on.

"The gym will be an outstanding new facility within the village, giving the residents a great place to meet, socialise and keep fit.

"We are delighted to be in the position to help Abbeyfield Braintree Bocking and Felsted Society.

"We will be keeping in touch to see the benefits gained by the people when the village opens.”

Operations Manager for Abbeyfield Braintree Bocking and Felsted Society Michele Quaife MBE added: “We are so delighted with the progress of this project and also the quality of the product.

"To get the support we have from NGP is tremendous. It will create a great facility that our residents will love. NGP’s focus on wellbeing is not a label.

"It is something really built into their business DNA.”

At a recent topping-out ceremony for the new village, Braintree MP James Cleverly was in attendance and spoke at the event.

He said:“This is why not just building a building and not just building somewhere for people to live, but actually building somewhere where there’s a community with friends and neighbours, is incredibly important.”