FEARS of leaking methane gas have sparked rumours that a village recreation centre is closing.

Mike Readman, manager of Loftus Leisure Centre, hit out at the "whispers and rumours" which have hit daytime attendances at the centre - the nearest building to the former dump at the centre of the scare.

As The Northern Echo revealed in January, a build up of groundwater has been registered on the site of an old tip. There is now the danger that pockets of explosive methane gas, generated by decomposing waste, could be pushed to the surface.

Mr Readman said attendance at the leisure centre had fallen after a busy holiday period, and centre staff had been confronted with gossip in a local pub that the centre was closing because of the danger.

He said: "It's all hot air, and that's all it is.

"I can assure everyone that the centre is open and available for use for all customers," he added.

"Indeed, we have just had our most successful half-term programme in years.

"The swimming pool is one of the very best on the East Coast and I wouldn't want any of our customers to miss out because of these rumours."

He admitted the centre was only yards from the old tip and that a burner for the methane gas was "just outside our back door".

He said: "It is perfectly true that there is some methane leakage in the area, but that is well away from the centre and has no effect whatsover on Loftus Leisure Centre and it's operation.

"In fact, its business as usual."

The groundwater build-up under the tip is thought to have its origins in old springs that have come back to life after the recent wet weather.

The tip was operated by Cleveland County Council and inherited by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Previous attempts to overcome the methane problem have failed.

A consultant has been called in to look at the problem and advise on solutions.