PLANS for the multi-million revamp of a town's leisure facility have been unveiled.

The facelift for Darlington's Dolphin Centre, which will get under way next week, represents the most significant refurbishment since the venue opened in 1982.

The work will cost £5m - nearly £1.5m more than initially planned. It will bring the centre's sports and leisure facilities into the 21st Century.

Preparatory work starts next week. The entire project is expected to last until Christmas.

Once completed, the new centre will include:

* family-friendly changing rooms

* three fitness studios

* a new soft play area with specialist sensory provision

* a modern base for the register office and marriage hall

* a continental cafe, bistro and bar

* improved reception and foyer

* specialist mother and baby facilities.

Customers' views and leisure industry experts technical expertise have inspired the new design.

Work will be carried out in phases, to ensure the centre stays open, but some areas will be closed for certain periods.

The venue attracts more than one million visitors each year, with about 50 clubs and organisations regularly using it for sport, meetings and other events.

Those groups have been consulted to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.

Although the main pool will be closed for 22 weeks, a full swimming programme will remain available, and the 2,000 children who use the centre each week in the Learn to Swim programme will still be accommodated.

Councillor Lee Vasey, cabinet member for leisure, said: "This is a hugely important and exciting scheme, which will bring quality contemporary leisure facilities to the Dolphin Centre's regular users and hopefully attract many more."