A council is to hand over management of three leisure centres as it strives to cut costs.

Cash-strapped Adur District Council will retain ownership of Wadurs swimming pool at Shoreham as well as Lancing and Southwick leisure centres.

But the day-to-day running of the sites will be taken over by Adur Community Leisure Limited (ACLL), a not-for-profit trust, while responsibility for their upkeep will be shared.

It will be operated by Impulse Leisure, which also manages Thurrock Council's leisure facilities. Staff working at the three centres will transfer to ACLL from July 1.

Adur has revealed basic debts of almost £13 million and a pensions deficit which puts it £24 million in the red overall.

It is considering a merger with neighbouring Worthing Borough Council, which faces similar debts, in a bid to cut costs and rationalise services.

Adur has identified an immediate need to save more than £600,000 over two years.

The council is already going ahead with plans to slim down its operation from four departments to just two. This would involve up to 15 senior staff, including two directors, being made redundant in an effort to avoid cuts in front-line services.

Adur council leader Neil Parkin said: "This is a positive step forward and will secure the future development of leisure in Adur."

Mike Baden, Impulse Leisure chief executive, said: "We intend to improve the centres, both in the quality of facilities they offer and the way they are run.

"We will ensure the community in Adur is involved in the development of leisure facilities for the benefit of everyone."

The Argus revealed on Wednesday a referendum could be held in Adur and Worthing ahead of a possible merger in 2008.