A TOWN council is fighting to preserve its swimming pool.

The future of Hetton Baths, at Hetton-le-Hole, is in doubt in a review of leisure facilities on Wearside.

Two options are being considered for swimming in Hetton and the neighbouring former Durham coalfield communities.

One is to rebuild the baths in their present location while the other is to replace them with a new pool on vacant land next to the sports complex in neighbouring Houghton-le-Spring.

Hetton Town Council has launched a campaign to prevent the closure of the 35-year-old baths, and plans to stage a public meeting to discuss the issue.

In the meantime, it is mounting a petition to gather local support to keep the baths in the town.

Council leader Councillor George Wandless said the future of the baths would be top of the agenda at its next meeting.

He said: "We'll decide on the way forward, but we want the public's support to keep our baths open.

"I think there are a lot of things going down to Houghton, yet nothing seems to come to Hetton."

He said visitor figures were healthy, reflecting continued demand for the facility, with 110,492 people using the baths last year, including 58,484 young learner swimmers.

Coun Wandless said that the location, next to the new town centre bus station, had also bolstered the number of visitors to the pool.

Sunderland City Council's £25,000 leisure survey is expected to be completed by the summer.