LEISURE chiefs are hoping for extra Lottery cash after construction costs soared on a new swimming pool project.

The multi-million pound project to build a pool in Stanley, County Durham, is running over budget by what bosses admit is a "considerable amount".

A specialist company contracted to supply insulation panels for the £4.6m centre has gone bust, leaving the project out of pocket and facing a long delay.

The development, by Derwentside District Council, has also encountered some difficulties with mine works discovered under the site. The opening date has been provisionally pushed back from April to June.

The authority has employed a team of consultants to look at reorganising the works schedule, in a bid to reduce the delay.

Councillor Alex Watson, leader of Derwentside District Council, said: "The company that was supplying the insulated panels went into liquidation. This meant we had to seek another supplier.

"We had some contingency funds set aside for a situation like this and we are going back to the Lottery people for some more help over the issue.

"While we anticipated some overspend, we couldn't anticipate this. It is very disappointing, but we will overcome these problems. The end result will be worth waiting for."

Initial funding for the pool came from a £3m National Lottery Sport England grant, with a further £1.6m given by the council.

The 30-year-old Burns pool in the town was demolished in 1997 because of structural faults, leaving residents without a swimming pool.

Work started on the new building, next to the Louisa Centre, in November 2001. The end product will be a six-lane, 25-metre competition pool, with 300 seats for spectators.

It will be the first pool in Derwentside to be at deck level, which means the water is at the same height as the pool edge. There will also be an 18m by 17m training pool with a mobile floor that can be raised or lowered to suit swimmers of all abilities.

A gymnasium is also included in the project. The separately funded fitness suite will be on two storeys with a weights room attached.

The ground floor will include a "cardio-theatre" for aerobics, with giant plasma TV screens.