CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save struggling leisure centres from closure have vowed to fight on, despite council chiefs raising serious concerns over all but one of their takeover bids.

Community leaders trying to rescue leisure centres in Sherburn, Coxhoe, Pity Me, Ferryhill and Crook have until 10am on Tuesday to convince Durham County Council bosses that their business plans are water tight, or face them recommending closure.

Leisure chiefs raised concerns over their business plans in letters sent on Thursday night.

Only a Deerness Gymnastics Club-led bid to turn Deerness leisure centre, in Ushaw Moor, into a world-class gymnastics academy went unquestioned.

Last night, campaigners were scrambling to reassure council bosses before Tuesday’s deadline.

Stuart Walton, who is fighting to save Sherburn’s centre, said: “I am gobsmacked. It’s a shambles.

But we shall overcome.”

Mr Walton questioned why the council did not disclose Thursday’s response when he presented a 5,000-name petition to a full council meeting 24 hours before.

Councillor John Bailey, who is campaigning for Crook’s centre, said: “We are very saddened by the way this has gone, but we are not going to let this beat us. We will carry on. We are pleased to have the opportunity to fine tune our bid.”

Mick Lavelle, the chairman of the Future Leisure in Coxhoe group, said: “We have been asked to clarify certain points within our application. In our opinion, we can do that.

“We feel we can overcome any weaknesses, as the council sees them, and convince them we are capable of running it at a profit.”

No one from Spectrum Leisure and Management (Slam), which bid to run centres in Pity Me, Sherburn, Coxhoe and Ferryhill, could be contacted for comment.

Anne Bonner, part of the Deerness bid, said the council’s response to its bid was positive and that the group was close to finalising its full business plan.

The council, which faces having to save £125m over four years, said closing the six leisure centres would save £1.3m a year.

Following Monday’s withdrawal of the only business to show interest in the centres, 13 bids from nine groups remain on the table.

Final decisions will be taken by the council on July 13.