What would life be like as a hamster? Fitness fanatics can now find out by taking part in in the latest craze to hit Sussex.

Waveriders are zipped up inside 6ft-high inflated balls and launched onto the water.

Paul Wilson, centre manager at Freedom Leisure Centre in Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, has bought three of the spheres to use in the 25-metre swimming pool.

He said: "You become a human hamster. It's very difficult to stand up, so you end up going flying around and doing cartwheels.

"You will end up falling but as long as you go with it it's fine."

Once sealed the orbs are water-tight, so those inside stay dry. It also means non-swimmers can happily take to the water.

There is enough air inside the balls to last up to 40 minutes, but the effort of keeping up with the constant motion quickly exhausts most people.

Mr Wilson said: "If you can manage five minutes then you're doing really well. It gets really hot in there and the water is always moving beneath you, so it's a really good work-out. You don't really realise because it's so fun.

"We see it as a way to fight the obesity issue."

The orbs, sold by Bristol company Waterwalkerz, are tethered to the side of the pool and supervised by lifeguards so there is no danger of floating away into the swimming lanes.

From the end of February the balls will be available for use every Sunday evening from 5.30pm until 7pm at the leisure centre, and a turn will cost around £2.

Users will be encouraged to spend an hour swimming before taking a turn in the ball.

Eventually there will be aquatic races for more advanced users and possibly even a version of water polo.

They can be used by anyone from the age of around six upwards, who weigh up to 15 stone.

Have you already had a go? Tell us what the experience was like below.

To see Argus reporter Simon Barrett trying out the craze, click play videohere