SPORTS enthusiasts in Richmond have vowed to fight to save the town's sports centre, which they say is booked every night of the week.

Users of the centre, off Gallowgate, are angry that Richmondshire District Council is considering closing it in a money-saving move.

The authority's community committee meets on Tuesday to discuss the issue and an officers' report was due to be published today.

Sports players and community groups which use the halls say they face a 12-mile round trip to Colburn, where bookings are more expensive.

They could use the dual use sports facilities at Richmond School, but say they would have to be police checked, which could take months.

They also realised the school would be likely to use the sports halls during the day, when those who did not work wished to play.

Ray Hudson used the council's first State of the District debate to urge the authority to make public all the facts of the proposed closure.

He told the meeting on Wednesday: "The sports centre is booked every night and used during the day.

"Not everyone can travel; where are we going to play sports in Richmond?"

Other protesters said the council should discourage car use, in line with a section entitled Safe and Healthy in its own community strategy.

Coun John Blackie, council leader, said no decision had yet been taken but urged anyone concerned to attend the committee meeting at Swale House, Richmond, on Tuesday, 6.30.

Further dual use sports facilities would be provided in the next three years as part of the redevelopment of St Francis Xavier School and the army was to build a sports complex at Catterick Garrison over the next two to three years.

Richmond Sports Centre cost the council £40,000 a year, which represented about 2pc on the council tax, said Coun Blackie.

The council raised the issue of the future of the centre several years ago, because of the cost and the fact facilities were becoming outdated.

"We haven't decided the future of the sports centre yet," said Coun Blackie.

"But we have to be very careful with our finances if we are to keep council tax down."

* Coun Blackie pledged that the district council proportion of the coming year's council tax bill would be kept to a minimum.

"I make a commitment tonight that the council tax for the forthcoming year will be kept to an absolute minimum," he said.

However, the Government continued to thrust additional duties and responsibilities on local authorities without providing the funding to carry them out, he said.

The district council also had no control over the precept raised by the county council, police authority and fire and rescue service, which made up the bulk of the council tax bill