Work starts in January on a £13 million swimming and leisure complex which earlier this year was in danger of being scrapped.

The new complex is being built in Horsham Park and will replace the present pool. It is expected to be completed by June 2002.

It will include a 25m by eight-lane pool with variable depth facility, spectator accommodation, a separate learner pool, an outdoor swimming area, a gymnastics training centre, health and fitness suite, multi-purpose hall and a children's indoor adventure play area.

The project was in jeopardy earlier this year when the initial tender prices were too high and made the complex unaffordable.

A Horsham District Council spokesman said rescheduling of the construction work, minor changes to the specification and an extra £1 million from council resources had made, what will be a prestigious facility for the town, a certainty.

Originally the council was hoping to build the new complex in two stages which would have meant the town would have been without a pool for only two to three months.

By agreeing to the pool being built in a single stage, the council is saving nearly £1 million but it means the pool will be closed for 18 months.

The project attracted the largest Sport England National Lottery grant in the South-East of £3.35 million.

An official signing ceremony took place this week between the building contractors Ballast Construction, the council's consultant architects Faulkner Browns and council chairman Liz Kitchen.

Mrs Kitchen said: "After the uncertainty surrounding this project over the past few months, I am delighted to have witnessed the signing of this construction on behalf of the council. The new complex represents the largest single construction undertaken by the council."

The council had thought "long and hard" before agreeing to the rescheduling. Leisure services staff had solved some of the problems and were working with clubs, schools and other regular users to minimise difficulties.

The complex has been designed as a series of linked pavilions with a glazed atrium winter garden for a cafe and seating area.