A sports centre opened by Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave celebrated its fifth anniversary over the bank holiday weekend.

The Redgrave Sports Centre, at Great Marlow School, hosted an open day on May 7 to celebrate five years since the £4 million facility was officially unveiled by the five time-gold medallist as he hailed the school that helped propel him to international glory.

Marlow resident and Olympian Greg Whyte joined guests in marking the milestone and cut the cake in front of staff, governors and visitors.

He described the centre as a “fantastic sporting facility made all the more special by the personable and knowledgeable staff”.

Sir Steve, from Marlow Bottom, studied at Great Marlow in the late 70s and early 80s when the school only had 25 rowers.

Sports facilities manager Michael Nestorovic said: “The facility has become an important part of the local community over the past 5 years.

“Since opening in 2013, the state of the art multi sports and fitness centre has not only enhanced the quality of the PE departments programme for the school, but has created an opportunity for the local community to take part in a wide variety of activities with access to all of the sports facilities and the fitness suite.”

At the time of the opening, the then-chair of governors Keith Goulding said the state-of-the-art complex in Wycombe Road, where the legendary rower was a pupil, was named after him to “inspire a new generation of young people to excel in their sports, and inspire others to become active participants in sport”.

Kevin Ford, head teacher of Great Marlow School, said: “As the head teacher of Great Marlow School I am very proud of our outstanding sporting facilities that serve our students so well during the school day.

“The facilities are then utilised by the community of Marlow and beyond during the evenings, weekends and school holidays.

“I would like to thank Professor Greg Whyte for coming along to the celebration and for his support on our fifth anniversary.”

And Redgrave Sports Centre chairman Anita Cacchioli said the facility was a “credit to the school” and a “significant community asset for the people of Marlow”.