An Eastbourne fitness centre under threat from closure has received a 12-month stay of execution - provided its members can plug a £5,500 shortfall.

The Devonshire Park Fitness Centre in College Road was facing the axe to save the borough council more than £12,000.

Council bosses said the centre had never made a profit and consistently ran at a loss despite regular promotions and membership drives.

And with a £5 million health and fitness centre opening in Willingdon Drove, Hampden Park, by the end of the year, competition is fierce.

Ron Cussons, the council's director of tourism and leisure, has admitted Devonshire Park could not compete on the scale of other venues.

But the move to close the centre provoked an outcry from members, who lobbied the Lib Dem-run authority in a bid to keep it open.

A 300-name petition was handed over and representations were made by members to council bosses in an effort to change their minds.

Councillors agreed to look at retaining it, providing conditions were met to offset the predicted £5,500 deficit.

These include a ten per cent membership price increase, a reduction in expenditure and staff agreeing to clean the centre as part of their duties.

In addition, workers will distribute leaflets across Eastbourne to garner more members and promote the centre by word of mouth.

However, the Conservative opposition said the centre would still fold if it failed to draw more members by the end of the year.