PROPOSED improvements to Ferryhill and Shildon Sunnydale leisure centres are expected to be approved today.

Sedgefield Borough Council has already committed £125,000 of its £380,000 budget for leisure centre improvements this year.

A report to the council's cabinet today will outline plans for further work at the two centres.

The Clevesferye Suite in the Ferryhill centre is to be refurbished with new ceiling tiles and lighting, replacement of dividing doors and curtains, and redecoration of the playgroup area.

The council will allocate £40,000 for the work and an £8,750 grant from the Sure Start project has also been received.

The men's changing rooms are to be refurbished at a cost of £15,000 - the first work on them since the centre opened in 1982. And £10,000 is to be allocated to redecorating the Ferryhill Leisure Centre bar and replacing the carpet.

Improvements are planned to the floor levels in the bowls hall at Sunnydale Leisure Centre. The council needs to spend £15,000 to bring the hall up to league standards.

A further £15,000 is needed to replace the floor covering in the first and ground floor corridor areas.