An upmarket gym is one step closer to coming to Colchester in a deal that could create more than 50 jobs.

At Monday night's cabinet meeting, councillors approved the deal in principle with David Lloyd Leisure Limited that would see a new club built near the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The club would include tennis courts, a gym and swimming pool and it is hoped it would attract more businesses to the Northern Gateway area.

Colchester Council owns 40 hectares of the land there and is marketing it as a sports, leisure and business park.

Cabinet member Paul Smith said: "This is another area that has attracted a huge amount of inward investment into Colchester.

"It has to be something to do with the vision that this council has it can't just be sheer luck that all these companies want to invest in Colchester."

The area is considered to be a prime investment site with the A12 junction 28 opening three years ago, work underway on the North Approach Road to the train station and a park and ride scheme due to start in December.

Legal details will be finalised in the coming months followed by a public consultation and planning application.