COUNCIL chiefs are calling on Shildon residents to share their views about how the town's leisure centre should look in five years time.

Sedgefield Borough Council is considering the future of Sunnydale Leisure Centre as part of a review of the leisure facilities and services it provides at its four centres.

Consultation with visitors to the centre and the wider community is ongoing and anyone who wants to share their views is encouraged to complete questionnaires, available at the centre or Shildon town library, by next week.

A council spokesman said: "We have plans for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor leisure centres and have now moved on to Shildon Sunnydale.

"The consultation process will tell us what people would like to see at Sunnydale Leisure Centre."

After consultation, which ends on September 7, feedback will go before the council's cabinet later in the month.

Any potential redevelopment is likely to be to the first floor accommodation, which includes the indoor bowling, fitness suite, lounge and bar and the squash courts.

Members of Shildon Indoor Bowls Club fear they will be forced to move when plans are drawn up and are pleading with the council to leave their main venue alone.

Club co-secretary Tommy Turnbull, 58, said: "During summer we meet at Shildon Railway Sports and Social Club, but for eight months of the year we're at the leisure centre.

"Speculation is the bowls arena will be done away with. We're urging the council not to let that happen because it means so much to us.

"We generate about £8,000 using the centre for league and knock-out competitions, attract people from all over the country to play against us and have paid for equipment ourselves."

Mr Turnbull, who believes playing bowls has helped him recover from a broken hip and shoulder, said the game is important exercise to many of the 130 members.

George Ritson, 65, who has had two knee replacements and a heart operation, said: "It keeps me going, lots of us have been told by our doctors to keep moving and find bowls the perfect light exercise and physiotherapy.