Bike hire, sales and repair have clicked up a gear at Alton Water Park with the Cycle Centre moving into a new, bigger home.

Despite lockdown visitors to the park, which is remaining open, will be able to hire bikes from the new premises from Tuesday.

Dean Battiste, store manager for Alton Water Cycle Hire, is delighted with the new centre, which is located in the Watersports' Centre building, after moving down from the cafe building by the main car park.

"The refurb took about a month and then moving down took us a good week, said Dean. "It has been brilliant since we first took over and the key now is to keep that going in the new location. I'm sure with all the new things we have, that will be the case."

Dean has seen an uptake in the whole family enjoying cycling around the miles of track at the spacious park.

"It is for all the family to be able to come out together," he said. "It has been really nice to see the families out together. Possibly in the past people have not given time to spend with all the family but during lockdown they can come down, hire bikes and enjoy it as a family activity around Alton Water, especially now we are having this Autumn sunshine."

People can cycle the paths near the reservoir on the 400 acre site every ay, with the park currently closing the gates at 4pm An adult bike costs £15, a child's £9 or a family deal with two adults two children £45.

Dean said: "There are some restrictions so from Tuesday we will be doing hire as a booking only.

"The bikes will be sanitised ready for you, then when you bring them back, we ask people to pop them into the the returns sections where we clean then and sanitise them again for the next hire."

The newly opened centre also has larger space to do repairs, from a simple puncture to more challenging projects, or you can simply buy a new one.

"We do repairs for all bikes, no matter how ruined hey are, we will fix them up," said Dean. "We also sell brand new bikes, and occasionally ex-hire bikes too."

As a former Halford's employee Dean knows his stuff and pretty much runs the Cycle Centre single-handedly, while knowing he has supportive colleagues. All in all he is delighted to have joined the Alton Water set up when it was brought in house more than two years ago.

Dean said: "I love it here. It is such a nice environment, beautiful setting, great people to work with. It has been a very good decision."

Access to the park's tracks and trails will remain open. So will the children's playground, toilets and cafes for takeaway.