Urgent work is needed on Worthing's swimming pool if it is not to close in the near future.

The warning was issued to councillors who are faced with major bills to repair both the Aquarena pool and the town's leisure centre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

A taskforce may be established to draw up a "shopping list" of improvements for the ailing leisure facilities to stop both venues losing customers.

Hywel Griffiths, Worthing Borough Council's director of community services, said the Aquarena in Brighton Road needed major internal refurbishment.

When the council was under Tory control, there were plans to attract private finance for a new pool with a family pub-restaurant next door.

But when the Liberal Democrats took over in May, talks were suspended and the condition of the Aquarena has deteriorated since then.

Mr Griffiths said: "Some maintenance work is now urgent if major failure and closure are to be avoided in the short-term future."

He said there was a pressing need for work on the main pool and machinery dealing with air conditioning, heating and filtration.

Major changes were needed to the main entrance, at the top of a flight of steep stairs, to make sure it complied with rules relating to access for the disabled.

New health and fitness facilities, centred around a fully-equipped 85-station gym, were required, along with a creche and better catering, including a bar.

In addition, the existing pool did not meet the competitive requirements for either swimming or diving.

Turning to the leisure centre, Mr Griffiths said: "There have been longstanding problems with the roof which need to be rectified, probably by complete replacement."

He said the complex would benefit if a swimming pool and second all-weather pitch were built, catering upgraded and the entrance improved.

Mr Griffiths said a working party should be set up to investigate a shopping list of improvements and how they would be funded.

Councillors will discuss the idea at a meeting of the executive on Monday.