Campaigners stepped up their protests over the proposed closure of the Olympic bar at Waterside Farm Sports Centre with a 1,000-name petition.

The bar is popular with users of the centre in Somnes Avenue, Canvey, but many fear the bar's closure could be the death knell for the leisure facility.

Castle Point Council claims it is being forced to axe the bar as it is losing too much money, and has been ordered to tighten their belts after a damning assessment in the Government's Comprehensive Performance Assessment.

Several users have banded together and have arranged a meeting with councillors on October 20 where they hope to put forward a rescue package for the bar.

Wheelchair user Peter Bugden, 30, is one of the driving forces behind the campaign to save the centre.

He said: "I use the bar every night basically, so if the council get rid of it I won't have anything to do at night.

"I go there in the daytime too and I know all the customers in the bar and they know me.

"I really hope they keep it open.

"If they do close the bar I'll still go up to the centre but I'll have to do something else, I don't know what."