Double Olympic champion Max Whitlock opens new £12m sports arena

Double Olympic gold medallist, Max Whitlock, and the Speaker of the House of Commons officially opened a new £12m sporting arena in Essex.

The Hertfordshire gymnast and his wife, Leah, have set up their second gymnastic club at the arena in Colchester.

The University of Essex hopes the facility on campus will develop future champions and encourage more youngsters into sport.

Thirty years after studying here, John Bercow is now Chancellor of the University of Essex.

He was thrilled with the new arena, which will feature three basketball courts and will be able to seat more than 1,500 people.

It will also accommodate a number of different sports and clubs and hope to inspire others to follow in Max's footsteps and bring home more Olympic medals.

The Essex Sports Arena will cater for a wide range of activities Credit: ITV News Anglia