Dozens of pensioners have complained they are being priced out of therapeutic swimming sessions.

Doctors have recommended that many of them take gentle exercise to ease aches and pains but they say they can no longer afford to visit their local leisure centres since the cost of a swim almost doubled.

They used to pay £1.70 an hour to use the pools in Lancing, Southwick and Shoreham on Tuesdays and Fridays.

But Adur District Council handed control of its leisure centres to not-for-profit company Impulse Leisure in June and the price has rocketed to £3.

An annual membership entitles the bearer to an hour in the pool for £1.50 and free swimming from 7am to 9am at the Waders pool in Shoreham on Tuesdays.

But many pensioners said they could not afford the £15 cost of a card.

Pearl Bradford, of Sheepbell Close, Portslade, used to go to Waders twice a week to ease her arthritis but can no longer afford it.

She said: "It is quite a big price rise and a lot of us can't afford the £15 fee for a membership card. Most of the senior citizens I know used to go twice a week but a lot of them are saying they can't afford it any more.

Ronald Tester, 72, used the Waders pool once a week but has now stopped.

He said: "I won't go back unless they reduce the prices and I'm not going to go at 7am. It's too early for me."

Independent councillor Liza McKinney sits on Adur's leisure committee and is a member of the board of Impulse Leisure.

She said about 20 people had already complained to her about the price rise.

She said: "At the next board meeting I shall ask for a review of the rates they are charging pensioners. If there is nothing I can do about it I shall have to consider resigning."

A spokeswoman from Adur District Council said: "The council is looking carefully at the agreement with Impulse Leisure, which includes a requirement for discounts to be given to priority groups such as pensioners.

"If the council is not satisfied it will pursue the matter with Impulse Leisure."