A Potters Bar leisure centre has been ranked as one of the best sports facilities in the country.

The Furzefield Centre, owned by Hertsmere Borough Council, achieved a mark of 85 per cent in its Quest accreditation, making it one of the top eight centres in the country for service provision and customer care.

Jude Lewis, manager of the centre in Mutton Lane, said the top grade was down to excellent teamwork.

"We are all so delighted," she said. "The team here deserve this. They work tirelessly to ensure that we give our customers the best experience possible.

"This not only means making sure that what customers see and experience is first class, it means ensuring that everything that goes on behind the scenes works seamlessly and everyone here pulls together to ensure that the two work well."

There are 893 leisures centres accredited with Quest, which was launched in 1996 by Sport England to help assess sports and leisure facilities.

The score is awarded by external assessors who assess the centre on 172 different points, including customer relations, health and safety, cleanliness, and management style.

The assessment takes two days and involves an assessor touring the centre, examining procedures, and questioning staff and customers.