A DURHAM City Council-run weights room has been closed because of fears about the safety of some equipment.

Council officials closed the room at the Sherburn Sports Centre yesterday afternoon, after receiving a letter from the Health and Safety Executive.

A council spokeswoman said: "One or two of the machines had started to move a little on the floor, due to misuse. They are now being bolted down.

"The weights room will be closed for up to a week, while the repairs are carried out. Customers can use the weights rooms at our other centres if they want to stay fit.''

A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said it received a complaint and sent a letter to the council giving it ten days to reply.

"We have notified them that there are some things that are not right.

"We are asking them to let us know what their findings are.''

He said that the executive itself did not order the closure.

One centre user said: "I was using the room when these health and safety people came in and asked us to leave because it was being shut indefinitely.

"It looked like they weren't happy with the state of the equipment.

"There have been complaints made about it to the council.

"I complained about the state of the dumbells and they were taken out because they were dropping to bits.

"They had been welded that many times and looked like they had been there since the centre opened.

"Apparently someone was on a machine and a bolt snapped off and hit him in the head, causing a cut.

"A cable machine tipped over because it wasn't bolted to the floor.

"There is a lot of good stuff in there but it is not maintained. We were told there was no money.''