A LEAK has caused the closure of Colne’s main swimming pool for the second time this year.

Specialist contractors have been drafted in to locate the source of the latest problem, at Pendle Leisure Centre, in Crown Way.

While the main pool is closed, the children’s pool remains open.

The previous leak, in February, closed the pool for a week.

Pendle Leisure Trust chief Phil Storey said: “A specialist company is at the centre today trying to locate the leak.

“Once it has been found, we can then progress as quickly as possible the get the facility up and running again.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, but at the moment, the situation is completely out of our control.”

The announcement comes as a major overhaul of leisure centre changing rooms and toilets is set to be agreed.

Swimmers and fitness fans are being put off attending Nelson, Colne and West Craven because of the ‘poor’ state of the lockers and showers, councillors have been told.

But with a VAT windfall, £160,000 looks set to be spent on bringing the facilities into the 21st century.

Councillors have recently reviewed the overall condition of Wavelengths, Pendle Leisure Centre and West Craven Leisure Centre.

Dean Langton, borough central services head, said: “It is acknowledged that the state of repair of the facilities, while remaining safe for customers to use, is relatively poor as a result of constant use and general age.

“This applies equally to the lockers which, in all cases, are those that were installed when each of the facilities was constructed."

Maintenance and repair costs were rising, he added, and there was ‘anecdotal’ evidence that customers were choosing to go elsewhere to exercise, at more modern centres.

Pools at Wavelengths in Nelson and West Craven Leisure Centre are open as usual.