Council bosses insist a popular swimming pool will not shut until a replacement is built.

Swimmers were concerned Wadurs pool in Shoreham could be shut and sold to help pay for a new £5 million leisure complex.

The new centre would be built on the site of the existing leisure centre in Old Barn Way, Southwick.

Adur District Council owns Wadurs as well as Southwick and Lancing Manor leisure centres.

Adur does not have the money to pay for and run a new leisure complex. It is considering handing over management of its existing facilities to a non-profit-making company.

As part of the deal, the new company would be asked to build a new centre and pool at Southwick.

Southwick councillor Sally Willson said: "At the moment, it is still a suggestion, which has to be approved by the council.

"But if it goes ahead and there is any move to close Wadurs before the new pool is open, I will fight it tooth and nail. If that happens, it will be over my dead body.

"I swim there twice a week and it is a vital community facility for local families and groups, which include disabled users."

Shirley Cloherty, a member of the disabled users group, said: "Wadurs is an important facility for the disabled and we cannot afford to lose it, even temporarily."

An council spokeswoman said: "We will ensure continuity of service because our customers are important to us.

"Wadurs will not be closed and knocked down before a new pool is built and the new one would include facilities for the disabled.

"However, these are very early days and the proposals are still a very long way from becoming council policy."