CAMPAIGNERS are squaring up for a battle to save six leisure centres threatened with closure.

Durham County Council is considering shutting the centres which, it argues, offer poor value for money or are in areas with alternative provision.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday how leisure centres in Ferryhill Coxhoe, Crook, Ushaw Moor, Sherburn and Pity Me may close.

Council chiefs are expected to seek permission from councillors on March 2 to begin consultation over the closures, which they say are being forced by central Government cuts.

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, said: "The Tory-led Government's cuts to local government are so deep it is impossible for Durham County Council to make savings without hitting frontline services.

"The proposed closure of six sport centres in the county, including Ferryhill in my constituency, can be put squarely at the door of 10 Downing Street.

Mr Wilson has been joined by Pat Glass, MP for north-west Durham, and Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for Durham City, in launching a petition opposing the cuts which they will present to Number 10.

They point to the threatened Deerness Leisure Centre, in Ushaw Moor - a national centre for gymnastics which has produced more than 60 world and European medallists - as an example of the importance of leisure centres.

Durham County Council has already said consideration will be given to clubs, particularly Deerness Gymnastics Club, as it looks for third parties to run the leisure centres during the expected consultation period. If none can be found the alternative is demolition and disposal of the sites which could raise millions if they were developed for housing.

Council leader, Simon Henig, said last night: "Funding is being reduced right across the country and, as with other authorities, we're saying we can't afford to run all those facilities anymore but we'd be delighted if we could keep them open by the involvement of community groups and so forth.

"We'd be delighted to look at any proposals but the bottom line is we have to save £125m. We've got to find those savings."

For details on how and where to sign the petition call 0191-374-1915.