Two North-East leisure complexes at the centre of a potential health scare have been given the all clear.

Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and the Spectrum Leisure Centre, in nearby Willington, will re-open today after both complexes passed a strict testing regime for the Legionella bacteria.

Both centres were closed last month when the deadly legionnaires bug was found in the domestic hot water systems.

Evidence of the legionella bacteria, which can cause pneumonia-like legionnaire's, was detected in the water samples taken during routine maintenance, on Wednesday, May 19.

Wear Valley District Council, which runs the centres, said that both systems have been thoroughly cleansed since the closure and further samples have been taken from strategic points within the supply.

The samples were then transported to an independent laboratory for testing where test results confirmed that the hot water systems contained no evidence of the Legionella bacteria.

Max Coleby, acting director of community services at the council said: "The decision to close the two facilities was taken as a precautionary measure.

"Whilst we believed that at no time have the public been put at risk because of the layout of the system we felt that it was necessary to extend the closure period.

"Taking the leisure complexes out of service was done for both welfare and safety reasons until the final test results were known.''