A leisure trust's venues have made energy-saving changes that are calculated, says the trust, to reduce carbon emissions by 69 tonnes annually - the equivalent of a car driving from Wrexham to Hollywood 50 times.

The venues, run by Freedom Leisure, have implemented the changes in collaboration with Wrexham County Borough Council.

The measures include solar PV and battery installations at Gwyn Evans, Chirk, and Queensway centres.

Destratification fans, which improve air handling, have been installed at Gwyn Evans, Waterworld, and Chirk.

Improved pool covers at Gwyn Evans, Chirk, Waterworld, Clywedog, and Rhosnesni are now in place.

Pool circulation pumps at Clywedog and Rhosnesni have been upgraded, while LED lighting has been installed on the 3G pitch at Morgan Llwyd.

The measures are expected to save more than 223,000kW of electricity and 106,000kW of gas per year.

More than half a million pounds of investment in support of the project was provided by Sport Wales and the Assets Collaboration Programme Wales.

Brian Davies, Sport Wales CEO, said: "The cost-of-living crisis, combined with the climate emergency, makes it more pressing than ever for investments to be made into leisure centre facilities which are so valued by the communities they serve.

"Each of these measures will significantly reduce the long-term running costs at leisure facilities across Wrexham, enabling them to become more financially sustainable and able to continue providing affordable activities for local people."

Angela Brown, head of sustainability and environment at Freedom Leisure, said: "Our commitment to energy efficiency is central to our mission in creating sustainable leisure centres and leading by example alongside our council partner.

"By optimising our energy use, we are ensuring that our facilities produce less carbon, become more cost effective and are aligned with a greener future."

Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for Wrexham County Borough Council with responsibility for climate change and decarbonisation, said: "This is a huge advance in ensuring that our decarbonisation agenda moves forward at pace.

"Reducing our carbon footprint is one of our corporate priorities and we are grateful to everyone involved with bringing this project to fruition."

Freedom Leisure, a charitable not-for-profit leisure trust, operates more than 120 leisure and cultural venues across the UK.

More than a quarter of a million pounds' worth of further investment have been earmarked for Wrexham by the trust.

Its ongoing energy-saving initiatives are part of Freedom Leisure's goal to become net zero by 2030.