A £9 million scheme to redevelop Worthing's main swimming pool has been backed by councillors.

Further investigations into how to meet the cost of the scheme for the Aquarena in Worthing will take place.

The move could see the development of a partnership between Worthing Council and private investors.

A private company would take over the running of the Aquarena, Worthing Leisure Centre and the borough's golf centres for a period of 25 years in return for its investment.

The council would be given the chance to lay down guidelines on prices and facilities provided before control was handed over.

A special meeting of the council's leisure committee last night heard a report from PMP Consultancy about swimming facilities for the borough.

The consultants recommended a new Aquarena be built next to the existing building so swimming facilities were not affected during the 20 months it would take to build the new pool.

The old building would then be demolished to make way for either a themed restaurant or a budget hotel.

The consultants recommended a smaller, satellite pool be built in the west of the borough, possibly Durrington, to cope with demand from residents there.

The Aquarena is 32 years old and, according to the council, increasingly difficult to maintain.

The new Aquarena would have a 25-metre, six-lane pool, a learners' pool, a diving pool, a fitness and health centre, better car parking facilities and a creche.

The outdoor paddling pool facility will be kept and there are plans to provide room for up to 200 spectators.

The consultant's initial suggestion to sell the site to a housing developer and to build alternative facilities at the leisure centre in Shaftesbury Avenue have now been dropped.

Councillors last night gave cautious support to the proposals although they were concerned about the need to join forces with private firms to get the improved facilities they needed.

Coun Eric Mardell said: "It is the way things are going now and we are going to have to bite the bullet and look into this.

"It is up to us to make sure the jobs of all staff are protected and that the people of Worthing get the best service possible."