COUNCILLORS have agreed to create a multi-million pound sports centre - but capped the amount of public money that can be used.

Members of Derwentside District Council agreed to spend no more than £10m on the facilities, to be built on the former steelworks site, in Consett.

But some sports groups feel it is too little, too late. They fault the council for spending too little on sport facilities in recent years.

The council originally hoped to spend £26m on the scheme to create an Olympic-standard leisure complex. But funding failed to materialise, and the plans were put on ice before Christmas.

A meeting on Tuesday night at the Civic Centre, in Consett, breathed new life into the plan, but limited what will be possible in the immediate future.

Council leader Councillor Alex Watson said he still hoped to attract more funding from various sources. This would mean that the development could expanded when more money came in.

Coun Watson said: "I am delighted, because it might not have got off the ground at all.

"We are guaranteed an extra £2m from Project Genesis Ltd, and are in talk with various sports organisations with a view to accessing more funding."

Work on a swimming and leisure complex is expected to start next year.

Last week, young football teams spoke out about the future of sports facilities. Players handed over hundreds of letters to the council, expressing disappointment about the lack of investment in recent years.

Anthony Robson, who manages Torpedo Consett under-tens and Consett YMCA Juniors, said the development would not do enough to enhance sports facilities in the district.

He said: "This would mean that the football ground would not be part of the scheme.

"The lawn tennis club will not be part of the scheme. No new external football, sports, athletics areas will be built. No all-weather facilities will be built.

"If this is progress, what possible chance do we have?

"It is a sad day for Derwentside and for the future of sport in this area."