Urgent funding of at least £1million is needed to save Basildon swimming pool from closure after a damning report revealed it was falling apart.

Council chiefs estimate major improvements to the ageing building could soar past the million pound mark after the survey revealed the pool in Gloucester Park is at a "serious risk of imminent failure."

Netting has had to be placed under the ceiling over the children's pool to catch crumbling roof tiles that were falling into the water.

Other problems identified include roof leaks, rotten and corroded pipework that has had to be closed off and poor disabled facilities.

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